Detecting thyroid cancer early and avoiding unnecessary surgery is the potential promise of a new cancer diagnostic test, known as the Afirma® gene expression classifier test, developed by South San Francisco company, Veracyte.

nci vol 2247 72 300x200 NEJM reports trial of Veracyte thyroid cancer diagnostic test, is it worth $4,200?

Human thyroid with cancer nodules.
Photo Credit: Dr Jeffrey Norton/NCI

According to the American Society of Cancer (ACS), with 56,540 cases expected this year, thyroid cancer is the fastest increasing cancer in the United States.

The most common symptom of thyroid cancer is a lump or nodule in the neck. To diagnose cancer, cells are taken by a fine needle from the nodule and examined to see if they are malignant (cancerous) or benign (not cancerous).

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