Age plays an important role in how thyroid cancer behaves, how it is staged, and how it is treated.
👶 Thyroid cancer in younger patients
More common in women Often presents with lymph node involvement Tumors may look aggressive on imaging 👉 Despite this, prognosis is excellent
✔️ Patients under 55 years are staged differently
✔️ Even with lymph nodes, survival rates exceed 98–99%
✔️ Treatment focuses on curing disease while preserving quality of life
👴 Thyroid cancer in older patients
Less common, but tumors may be biologically more aggressive Higher likelihood of: Extrathyroidal extension Distant metastases Higher-stage disease Outcomes are still often very good, but treatment may need to be more comprehensive
⚖️ Why age matters
Age helps determine:
AJCC stage Expected prognosis Intensity of treatment and follow-up
🧠 Important clarification:
Age alone does not determine outcome.
➡️ Tumor biology, pathology, and response to treatment matter most.
🦋 What this means for patients
Thyroid cancer is not the same disease in every patient.
The goal is personalized, risk-adapted care—not one-size-fits-all treatment.
👨⚕️ Dr. Rodrigo Arrangoiz, MD
Surgical Oncologist – Thyroid, Head & Neck, Breast
Mount Sinai Medical Center
📌 Take-home message:
Young patients do extremely well.
Older patients still have excellent outcomes with expert, individualized care.
📚 References
AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, 8th Edition Haugen BR et al. ATA Guidelines for Differentiated Thyroid Cancer. Thyroid Tuttle RM et al. Risk-adapted management of thyroid cancer. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol
My name is Rodrigo Arrangoiz I am a breast surgeon/ thyroid surgeon / parathyroid surgeon / head and neck surgeon / surgical oncologist that works at Center for Advanced Surgical Oncology in Miami, Florida.
I was trained as a surgeon at Michigan State University from (2005 to 2010) where I was a chief resident in 2010. My surgical oncology and head and neck training was performed at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia from 2010 to 2012. At the same time I underwent a masters in science (Clinical research for health professionals) at the University of Drexel. Through the International Federation of Head and Neck Societies / Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center I performed a two year head and neck surgery and oncology / endocrine fellowship that ended in 2016.
Mi nombre es Rodrigo Arrangoiz, soy cirujano oncólogo / cirujano de tumores de cabeza y cuello / cirujano endocrino que trabaja Center for Advanced Surgical Oncology en Miami, Florida.
Fui entrenado como cirujano en Michigan State University (2005 a 2010 ) donde fui jefe de residentes en 2010. Mi formación en oncología quirúrgica y e n tumores de cabeza y cuello se realizó en el Fox Chase Cancer Center en Filadelfia de 2010 a 2012. Al mismo tiempo, me sometí a una maestría en ciencias (investigación clínica para profesionales de la salud) en la Universidad de Drexel. A través de la Federación Internacional de Sociedades de Cabeza y Cuello / Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center realicé una sub especialidad en cirugía de cabeza y cuello / cirugia endocrina de dos años que terminó en 2016.
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Rodrigo Arrangoiz MS, MD, FACS, FSSO 