甲状腺癌约占恶性肿瘤的1%,发病率在甲状腺肿流行区较非流行区高。女性与男性之比约3:2。可发生在任何年龄,但多在40—50岁。约10—25%的甲状腺单发结节证明为癌瘤,约5%结节性甲状腺肿含有癌瘤,弥漫性毒性甲状腺肿也可发生癌瘤,但少于1%。甲状腺癌的发展规律,彼此差异很大,可生长缓慢似腺瘤,在局部停留数年,也可原发癌呈隐性病灶而早期出现转移。 Thyroid cancer accounts for about 1% of malignant tumors, and the incidence is higher in goitre epidemic areas than in non-endemic areas. The ratio of women to men is about 3:2. Can occur at any age, but more often in the 40-50 years old. About 10-25% of solitary thyroid nodules proved to be cancerous, and about 5% of nodular goiters contained cancerous tumors. Diffuse toxic goiters may also develop cancerous tumors, but less than 1%. The developmental rules of thyroid cancer are very different from each other. They can grow like adenomas slowly and stay local for several years. They can also develop primary cancers with recessive lesions and early metastases.