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Molecular Biology of Thyroid Cancer

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Part of the book series: Springer Specialist Surgery Series ((SPECIALIST))

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There have been significant advances in our understanding of the molecular biology of thyroid cancer, and many of these studies have important clinical ramifications or applications to optimizing patient management. For example, the discovery of the germline mutation in the RET proto-oncogene that is responsible for hereditary medullary thyroid cancer has resulted in the ability to perform prophylactic thyroidectomy in at-risk individuals and more effective screening of at-risk family members, and the realization that genotype–phenotype associations are present. Genetic studies also provide a more precise estimate of tumor aggressiveness and identify individuals predisposed to having additional endocrine tumors (hyperparathyroidism and pheochromocytoma).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Thyroid Cancer Clinic, Center for Breast Cancer, National Cancer Center, peninsula, Ilsan, Korea

    Ki-Wook Chung (MD)

  2. Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Insoo Suh (MD)

  3. Department of Surgery, University of California, UCSF/Mt. Zion Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Orlo H. Clark (MD, FACS)

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  1. Ki-Wook Chung
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  2. Insoo Suh
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  3. Orlo H. Clark
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. St Thomas Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7EH, United Kingdom

    Johnathan Hubbard

  2. Coll Physicians & Surgeons Columbia, Fort Washington Avenue 161, New York, 10032, U.S.A.

    William B. Inabnet

  3. Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong Medical Centre, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China, People's Republic

    Chung-Yau Lo

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© 2009 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Chung, KW., Suh, I., Clark, O.H. (2009). Molecular Biology of Thyroid Cancer. In: Hubbard, J., Inabnet, W., Lo, CY. (eds) Endocrine Surgery. Springer Specialist Surgery Series. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-881-4_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-881-4_7

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