What is the Difference Between Follicular and Papillary Thyroid Cancer

The key difference between follicular and papillary thyroid cancer is that follicular thyroid cancer starts in follicular cells of the thyroid gland and is less likely to spread to the lymph nodes, while papillary thyroid cancer starts in follicular cells of the thyroid gland and is more likely to spread to the lymph nodes.

The thyroid gland is in the neck and is part of the endocrine system. It makes hormones that help control the metabolism and calcium levels in the blood. When the cells in the thyroid gland grow excessively, they turn into cancer. There are four types of thyroid cancers: follicular, papillary, medullary, and anaplastic.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Follicular Thyroid Cancer
3. What is Papillary Thyroid Cancer
4. Similarities – Follicular and Papillary Thyroid Cancer
5. Follicular vs Papillary Thyroid Cancer in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Follicular vs Papillary Thyroid Cancer

What is Follicular Thyroid Cancer?

Follicular thyroid cancer is a type of thyroid cancer that starts in the follicular cells of the thyroid gland. However, this type of thyroid cancer is less likely to spread or metastasize to lymph nodes. Anyone can get follicular thyroid cancer, but it is more common in older women. Moreover, between 10% and 15% of all thyroid cancers belong to the follicular thyroid cancer type. Symptoms of follicular thyroid cancer may include a lump or thyroid nodule in the neck, pain in the ear, jaw, or neck, hoarseness, swollen lymph nodes, and trouble breathing or swallowing. The exact cause of follicular thyroid cancer is not known, but it is more likely to occur when exposed to radiation, having radiation therapy, or working near radiation.

Follicular and Papillary Thyroid Cancer - Side by Side Comparison

Figure 01: Follicular Thyroid Cancer

Follicular thyroid cancer is diagnosed through physical examinations, imaging tests like CT scan, MRI, ultrasound, X-ray, needle biopsy, and cytology. Healthcare practitioners treat most follicular thyroid cancers with surgeries such as lobectomy, thyroidectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, radioiodine therapy, targeted drug therapy, and thyroid hormone therapy.

What is Papillary Thyroid Cancer?

Papillary thyroid cancer is a type of thyroid cancer. This type of thyroid cancer is more likely to spread or metastasize to the lymph nodes. Papillary thyroid cancer also originates from follicular cells of the thyroid gland. Moreover, most people with thyroid cancer have papillary thyroid cancer (between 70% to 80%).

Papillary thyroid cancer can affect anyone, but it is more common in middle-aged adults. Women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) are more likely to get this condition. Scientists do not know the exact cause of this condition, but radiation exposure and certain genetic conditions (Gardner syndrome, Werner syndrome, and Carney complex type 1) are risk factors for developing papillary thyroid cancer. The signs and symptoms of papillary thyroid cancer may include painless lumps or nodules on the thyroid gland, pain in the neck, jaw, or ear, and difficulty with breathing or swallowing.

Follicular vs Papillary Thyroid Cancer in Tabular Form

Figure 02: Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Papillary thyroid cancer is usually diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and imaging tests which include thyroid ultrasound, CT scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and fine needle aspiration. Furthermore, treatment options for papillary thyroid cancer include surgeries like lobectomy, thyroidectomy, thyroid hormone replacement medication, radioiodine (radioactive iodine) therapy, radiation therapy (brachytherapy), and intravenous or oral chemotherapy drugs to kill cancer cells.

What are the Similarities Between Follicular and Papillary Thyroid Cancer?

Follicular and papillary thyroid cancer are two different types of thyroid cancers.
Both thyroid cancers start in follicular cells of the thyroid gland.
The exact cause of both cancers is not known.
Radiation is a risk factor for developing both disorders.
Women are more likely to be affected by both thyroid cancers.
Both thyroid cancers may have similar symptoms, such as a lump or pain in the neck, jaw, or ear, breathing difficulties, etc.
Both thyroid cancers can be diagnosed by physical examination and imaging tests.
They are mainly treated through surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

What is the Difference Between Follicular and Papillary Thyroid Cancer?

Follicular thyroid cancer is a type of cancer that starts in follicular cells of the thyroid gland and is less likely to spread to the lymph nodes, while papillary thyroid cancer is a type of cancer that starts in follicular cells of the thyroid gland and is more likely to spread to the lymph nodes. Thus, this is the key difference between follicular and papillary thyroid cancer. Furthermore, follicular thyroid cancer is a less common type of thyroid cancer, while papillary thyroid cancer is a more common type of thyroid cancer.

The below infographic presents the differences between follicular and papillary thyroid cancer in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Follicular vs Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the thyroid gland. There are different types of thyroid cancer. Follicular and papillary thyroid cancer are two different types of thyroid cancers. Both thyroid cancers start in the follicular cells of the thyroid gland. Follicular thyroid cancer is a less common type of thyroid cancer and is less likely to spread to the lymph nodes. On the other hand, papillary thyroid cancer is a more common type of thyroid cancer and is more likely to spread to the lymph nodes. So, this summarizes the difference between follicular and papillary thyroid cancer.