Subscribe
Thyroid cyst
Is a thyroid cyst serious if it becomes malignant?
Thyroid cysts are generally benign lesions, so their malignancy rate is not high, and they generally do not become malignant. Thyroid cysts can be solitary or multiple, and usually grow slowly without any clinical symptoms. Routine monitoring is mainly based on color Doppler ultrasound to observe changes in the cysts. If the cyst shows calcification of the cyst wall or rapid growth, attention should be given to whether there are other changes or internal bleeding within the cyst. Timely surgical treatment can lead to a very good prognosis.
How to treat thyroid cysts
The treatment of a thyroid cyst depends on its size and location. Generally, a thyroid cyst is a benign lesion that presents as a space-occupying lump at the Adam's apple. If the cyst is relatively large, it might cause local compression symptoms such as pain, difficulty swallowing, and a hoarse voice. If the tumor cyst is small, it might not show any obvious symptoms, in which case it can be monitored over time. If the cyst is larger than four centimeters and causes discomfort such as local compression symptoms, corresponding surgical treatment is needed, or minimally invasive procedures such as cyst fluid aspiration or microwave ablation of the cyst.
Can thyroid cysts grow larger?
Some thyroid cysts can grow larger. A thyroid cyst refers to a fluid-filled sac found in the thyroid gland, typically round in shape with a diameter ranging from two to five centimeters. Generally, these cysts are painless or only mildly painful. Most are solitary nodules, though a few are found in multiple nodules. Thyroid cysts are not an independent disease; they can result from simple goiter, nodular goiter, or degenerative changes in thyroid adenomas. Some cysts may also form due to thyroid cancer, through processes like hemorrhaging and necrosis. At least 4% of the population can feel thyroid nodules larger than one centimeter, and about 5% to 20% of these nodules are cystic. Particularly when individual nodules exceed four centimeters in diameter, thyroid cysts have a 4% to 5% rate of malignancy. Therefore, it is possible for thyroid cysts to grow larger.
Can thyroid cysts be massaged?
Thyroid cysts refer to fluid-filled sac-like structures that appear in the thyroid, which are usually benign. The fluid contained within is often referred to as a blister. These blisters can be quite large, over five centimeters, or quite small, less than one centimeter. They should not be massaged, as massage does not offer any benefits to them. If the cyst is relatively large, massaging the area can stimulate it, causing bleeding within the cyst. Consequently, the cyst may rapidly and temporarily enlarge, potentially causing localized pain, compression, and even difficulties in breathing and swallowing. Therefore, it is advised not to massage thyroid cysts.
Is thyroid cyst calcification serious?
Is severe calcification of a thyroid cyst serious? It depends on the situation. Firstly, a thyroid cyst is not an independent disease; it develops from a simple goiter, nodular goiter, or regressive changes in a thyroid adenoma, some of which may be due to bleeding or necrosis caused by thyroid cancer, forming a thyroid cyst. Therefore, a thyroid cyst could potentially be a malignant indicator. Moreover, the calcification of thyroid cysts mainly depends on the description of the calcification. For instance, some are fine punctate microcalcifications, which are less than or equal to 1mm, while others are larger, coarse calcifications larger than 1mm, and there are even some annular calcifications. Thus, thyroid cyst calcification is not necessarily cancerous, and the likelihood of malignancy varies with each type of calcification, generally, the potential for malignancy is microcalcification greater than coarse calcification, greater than annular calcification. Therefore, whether calcification of a thyroid cyst is serious mainly depends on whether it is a malignant lesion.
Do thyroid cysts hurt?
Thyroid cysts sometimes hurt and sometimes do not. A thyroid cyst refers to a round, fluid-containing cystic structure found in the thyroid, generally 2-5 centimeters in diameter, smooth, usually painless or with mild pain, and can move up and down with swallowing. If the cyst is large or there is bleeding inside the cyst, it may cause some compressive symptoms such as pain, difficulty swallowing, breathing difficulties, and hoarseness. Therefore, whether a thyroid cyst is painful generally depends on the size of the cyst and whether there is bleeding inside it.
What should I do if a thyroid cyst causes a fever?
Thyroid cysts are one of the most common benign masses found in the thyroid gland. Generally, they do not become cancerous and usually have no clinical symptoms; therefore, thyroid cysts themselves do not cause fever. If a patient with a thyroid cyst develops a fever, it is important to consider whether there might be a concurrent infectious disease. If there is pain in the area of the thyroid, it is necessary to evaluate for conditions such as thyroiditis or a thyroid abscess. A simple thyroid cyst alone would not cause a fever.
Can you get pregnant with a thyroid cyst?
Thyroid cysts refer to sac-like formations within the thyroid gland that contain fluid, typically benign with rare cases of malignancy. The fluid inside these cysts, also known as blisters, has no secretory function and does not affect thyroid function, making it possible to become pregnant with a thyroid cyst. However, it is important to note that during pregnancy, if the cyst rapidly enlarges or if there is localized pain, it could be due to bleeding inside the cyst which requires urgent treatment. Aspiration of the cyst fluid can be done through fine needle aspiration to relieve pressure, and ethanol ablation can be used to close the cyst cavity. This minor surgery is generally tolerable and does not affect pregnancy.
How to treat thyroid cystic tumors?
Thyroid cysts refer to fluid-filled sac-like formations or lumps found in the thyroid, generally round in shape, typically painless or only mildly painful, and move up and down with swallowing. Most are solitary nodules, with multiple nodules being less common. Most thyroid cysts do not exhibit obvious clinical symptoms unless the cyst is large or there is bleeding within the cyst, which may lead to symptoms of compression such as pain, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, and hoarseness. Therefore, the treatment of thyroid cysts primarily involves understanding their nature. If a thyroid cyst is malignant, prompt surgical removal should be undertaken; if benign, generally it is sufficient to monitor the cyst through follow-up observations.
Can thyroid cysts become cancerous?
Thyroid cysts can potentially become cancerous. Initially, thyroid cysts may arise from various thyroid diseases such as nodular goiter, Hashimoto's disease, thyroid adenoma, and thyroid follicular cancer, which form through degeneration, liquefaction, and hemorrhage. They are one of the common diseases of the thyroid. In the population, at least 4% of people can feel thyroid nodules larger than one centimeter. Among these nodules, about 5% to 20% are cystic. Statistics show that even benign lesions causing cysts have a 4%-5% chance of becoming cancerous when the diameter of the individual exceeds 4 centimeters. Therefore, thyroid cysts can potentially become cancerous.