PIW: Petroleum Intelligence Weekly (magazine) PIW: Period of Incapacity for Work (human resources management) PIW: Public Interest Watch (Washington, DC)
Cancerous nodules are classified by the types of malignant thyroid cells they contain. These cell types include papillary, follicular, medullary, or poorly differentiated (anaplastic) cells. The prognosis for the patient depends largely on the cell type and how far the cancer has spread by the time it is discovered. In addition to thyroid cancer of the cell types mentioned, thyroid nodules may contain lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system. Cancer from other sites, such as breast and kidney, also can spread (metastasize) to the thyroid gland. The cause of most thyroid nodules is not known. In certain cases, a lack of iodine in the diet can cause the thyroid gland to develop ...
Thyroid cancer is found in about 8 percent of nodules in men (or 8 out of 100) and in 4 percent of nodules in women. About 90 percent of all thyroid nodules are benign (non-cancerous). The cause of most benign nodules is not known, but they are often found in members of the same family. Worldwide, lack of iodine in the diet is a very common cause of nodules.