Differentiated thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer can be ‘differentiated’ or ‘undifferentiated’. ‘Differentiated’ means the cancer cells still look like normal thyroid cells in appearance. They do not spread as rapidly as the undifferentiated type of cancer cells. ‘Undifferentiated’ cells look very different from normal thyroid cells. Papillary and follicular thyroid cancers are both differentiated. They are usually highly treatable.

General resources

The thyroid gland and thyroid cancer (British Thyroid Association)

Investigation of thyroid lumps (British Thyroid Association)

Thyroid cancer guide (British Thyroid Foundation)

Thyroid cancer (American Thyroid Association)


Surgery for thyroid cancer (British Thyroid Association)

Thyroid surgery (British Thyroid Foundation)

Thyroid surgery (American Thyroid Association)

Radioactive iodine ablation

Radioactive iodine ablation and therapy (British Thyroid Association)

Radioactive iodine (American Thyroid Association)

Complications and long term survivorship

Hypoparathyroidism (Hypopara UK)

Patient information and stories