Follicular thyroid cancer risk factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ammu Susheela, M.D. [2]

Thyroid Cancer Main Page
Patient Information
Overview
Classification Papillary Thyroid Cancer Follicular Thyroid Cancer Medullary Thyroid Cancer Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Thyroid Lymphoma
Causes
Differential diagnosis

Risk Factors

Clinical data have suggested that the development of thyroid cancer is related to several factors.

• A diet low in iodine: Clinical survey show follicular thyroid cancers are more common in areas where people's diets are low in iodine.
• Radiation: Scientists has proven that radiation exposure is a risk factor for thyroid cancer. Such radiation includes medical treatments and radiation fallout from power plant accidents or nuclear weapons.
• Age: Clinical data show that papillary and follicular thyroid cancer are usually found in people between the ages of 20 and 60 years.