Treatment of Medullary Thyroid Cancer

For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.

Localized medullary thyroid cancer is in the thyroid only and may have spread to nearby muscles in the neck. Locally advanced and metastatic thyroid cancer has spread to other parts of the neck or to other parts of the body.

Treatment of localized medullary thyroid cancer may include the following:

• Total thyroidectomy if the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body. Lymph nodes near the cancer are also removed.
• External radiation therapy for patients whose cancer has recurred in the thyroid.

Treatment of locally advanced/metastatic medullary thyroid cancer may include the following:

• Targeted therapy with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (vandetanib, cabozantinib, or selpercatinib) for cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
• Chemotherapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients whose cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Radioactive iodine therapy is not used to treat medullary thyroid cancer.

Use our clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are accepting patients. You can search for trials based on the type of cancer, the age of the patient, and where the trials are being done. General information about clinical trials is also available.