Detailed staging of thyroid cancer

You might hear doctors refer to a more simple staging system|, or they may use this more detailed staging system.

Papillary or follicular thyroid cancer in people under 45 Back to top

Stage 1

The tumour can be of any size and nearby lymph nodes may also be affected, but the tumour has not spread to other parts of the body.

Stage 2

A tumour of any size that has spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones or lungs.

There is no stage 3 or 4 for thyroid cancer in this age group.

Papillary or follicular thyroid cancer in people aged 45 and over Back to top

Stage 1

The tumour is no bigger than 2cm and hasn’t grown outside the thyroid gland. There has been no spread to either the lymph nodes or to other parts of the body.

Stage 2

The tumour hasn’t grown outside the thyroid gland and is between 2–4cm. There has been no spread of the cancer to lymph nodes or to other parts of the body.

Stage 3

The tumour is bigger than 4cm and hasn’t grown outside the thyroid gland. Or, the tumour is of any size and has spread just outside the thyroid gland. It has spread to nearby lymph nodes in the neck but not to other parts of the body.

Stage 4A

The tumour may be any size and has spread into surrounding parts of the neck (such as the muscles, nerves or blood vessels). It may have spread to the lymph nodes, but has not affected other parts of the body.

Or, the tumour is any size and may have spread just outside the thyroid gland. It has spread to lymph nodes in the neck away from the thyroid or in the upper chest. The cancer has not spread to other parts of the body.

Stage 4B

The tumour may be any size and has spread to neck tissues near the spine or into nearby large blood vessels. The cancer may also have spread to lymph nodes but not to other parts of the body.

Stage 4C

The cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lung or bones.

Medullary thyroid cancer Back to top

Stage 1

The tumour is no bigger than 2cm and hasn’t grown outside the thyroid gland. There has been no spread to either the lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Stage 2

The tumour hasn’t grown outside the thyroid gland and is between 2–4cm. There has been no spread of the cancer to lymph nodes or to other parts of the body.

Stage 3

The tumour is any size and may have spread just outside the thyroid gland. It has spread to lymph nodes close to the thyroid, but not to other parts of the body.

Stage 4A

The tumour may be any size and has spread into surrounding parts of the neck (such as the muscles, nerves or blood vessels). It may have spread to the lymph nodes but has not spread to other parts of the body.

Or, the tumour is any size and may have spread just outside the thyroid gland. It has spread to lymph nodes in the neck away from the thyroid or in the upper chest but not to other parts of the body.

Stage 4B

The tumour may be any size and has spread to neck tissues near the spine or into nearby large blood vessels. The tumour may also have spread to lymph nodes but not to other parts of the body.

Stage 4C

The cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lung or bones.

Anaplastic cancer Back to top

Everyone diagnosed with anaplastic cancer of the thyroid is considered to be at stage 4. This stage is divided into three stages depending on how far the cancer has spread, and whether it can be removed with surgery.

Stage 4A

The tumour is any size and contained within the thyroid gland. Lymph nodes may also be affected, but the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body.

Stage 4B

The tumour is any size and it has begun to affect the soft tissues of the neck. Lymph nodes may also be affected, but the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body.

Stage 4C

The cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lung or bones.