Thyroid Disease in HNC
Featured Guest Writer: Dr. Daniel Kwon
USC Head and Neck Center
The thyroid gland, located in the lower neck, produces thyroid hormone which is critical to the regulation of normal bodily function. It has vital roles in all sorts of things like brain function, metabolism, temperature, and wound healing.
Abnormal thyroid function is very common in head and neck cancer (which includes thyroid cancer!) with some studies reporting nearly 50% of HNC patients with some thyroid disease. In large part due to its location, the thyroid often sustains damage from surgery and radiation. This can lead to low thyroid function, inflammation, or the development of nodules and even cancer.
Because it is so important for recovery and healthy living, don’t forget to discuss thyroid health with your doctor regularly!
About our featured guest writer
Daniel Kwon, MD
Associate Professor –
Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery – Dept of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery – Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California