Subscribe
Thyroid nodule
Which department for thyroid nodules?
Which department to see for thyroid nodules depends on the specific condition of the nodules. If the nodule is relatively small and does not cause local compression symptoms, such as respiratory difficulty, shortness of breath, or difficulty swallowing, then you can visit the endocrinology department to check the functional state of the thyroid nodules as well as use ultrasound to assess whether the thyroid nodules are benign or malignant. If the nodule is large, exceeding ten centimeters, and has caused symptoms such as hoarseness, shortness of breath, and difficulty swallowing, then it is necessary to visit the thyroid surgery department, where surgical treatment may be needed to relieve the symptoms.
Do thyroid nodules hurt?
Thyroid nodules generally do not cause pain. However, pain may occur if the nodules are due to subacute thyroiditis or if there is suppurative thyroiditis. Another possible cause of pain is the rapid enlargement of the thyroid due to a ruptured cyst, which can lead to severe pain. Additionally, most thyroid nodules are painless. Pain might occur when there is a change in the nodules, such as rapid growth, or if cancerous changes develop, potentially leading to localized pain.
How to treat thyroid nodules
The treatment of thyroid nodules first requires assessing the functionality of the thyroid nodules, determining whether they are functional or non-functional tumors. This requires a blood test to check thyroid function. The second step is to assess the malignancy of the thyroid nodules, whether they are benign or malignant. The treatment methods differ accordingly. The main tool for differentiation is the color Doppler ultrasound. If the color Doppler ultrasound indicates a benign nodule and the nodule is small, less than four centimeters, it can be observed dynamically. However, if it indicates a malignant nodule, then prompt surgical treatment is necessary.
Causes of thyroid nodules
Thyroid nodules are a common clinical disease, more prevalent in women and the elderly, with 5%-15% of thyroid nodules being malignant. They are influenced by age, gender, history of radiation exposure, family history, and other factors. Common causes of thyroid conditions include benign adenomas, focal thyroiditis, multinodular goiter, cysts of the thyroid or parathyroid, or thyroglossal duct cysts. Additionally, unilateral developmental defects of the thyroid can lead to hyperplasia of the thyroid on the opposite side. After surgical removal of thyroid nodules or treatment with Iodine-131, scars and hyperplasia of the remaining thyroid tissue are also common causes of thyroid nodules.
Can thyroid nodules be detected?
Some thyroid nodules can be observed through visual inspection, while others cannot be seen as they vary in size, and most are very small. These nodules are often discovered during medical check-ups, specifically through ultrasonic imaging of the thyroid. Unless a thyroid nodule is particularly large, or grows outward prominently on the front surface of the neck, it can be visibly detected in a clinical setting. Thyroid nodules are quite common in thyroid diseases, and most are benign and do not require treatment, only regular follow-up examinations.
What are the symptoms of thyroid nodules?
Thyroid nodules are formed due to the proliferation of thyroid tissue into masses, and clinically, these nodules are categorized as either benign or malignant, and as cystic or solid. Generally, cystic nodules are benign. However, a portion of solid nodules are malignant. Therefore, in the early stages, a patient with thyroid nodules might not exhibit any symptoms because the nodules are relatively small. As the thyroid nodules progressively enlarge, for instance, when they grow larger than two or three centimeters, the patient may start feeling discomfort in the neck. Some patients with nodules that grow inward can experience compression of the trachea, leading to difficulties in swallowing and breathing obstruction. Thus, when feeling discomfort in the neck, it is crucial to go to the hospital for an ultrasound to confirm whether thyroid nodules are present.
How to cure thyroid nodules
The treatment of thyroid nodules is primarily based on whether the nodules are benign or malignant. For nodules that are highly suspected to be malignant clinically, or are confirmed to be suspiciously malignant or malignant through thyroid fine needle aspiration, surgical treatment is required and generally yields good results. The second type is benign nodules, for which studies have shown that treatment with levothyroxine can suppress and reduce the size of the nodules, but this is only effective in some iodine-deficient areas. Another type is hyperfunctioning hot nodules, which can be treated with isotope therapy and radioactive iodine. Additionally, if the thyroid nodule causes compressive symptoms, appears behind the sternum or within the mediastinum, and is associated with high-risk factors for thyroid cancer, surgical removal is recommended. For benign thyroid nodules, usually, only regular follow-up with thyroid ultrasound is required; if the ultrasound follow-up shows more than a 50% increase in the size of the thyroid nodule, further thyroid fine needle aspiration is needed, and surgery may be necessary if required.
How to Treat Calcification of Thyroid Nodules
In the treatment of thyroid nodule calcification, we generally decide based on the size of the calcification. Usually, larger calcifications have a lower malignancy rate. Such calcifications can continue to be observed. Depending on specific circumstances, a fine needle aspiration cytology test may be chosen. Depending on the results of the pathological examination after the aspiration, we decide the next treatment approach, whether to continue observation or proceed with surgery. The second type involves smaller calcifications, which relatively have a higher malignancy rate. Our preferred treatment is surgery. During the surgery, based on the medical examination results, if the nodule is malignant, we need to further devise other treatment plans, including expanded surgery, radiotherapy, etc.
Can thyroid nodules heal themselves?
Thyroid nodules cannot heal on their own, but with appropriate treatment, good recovery can be achieved. Thyroid nodules are a common clinical disease, with many causes. Nodules can be either solitary or multiple, and the incidence of multiple nodules is relatively higher. Regardless of the cause, thyroid nodules are more common in middle-aged women, with the most common symptoms including thyroid enlargement, neck discomfort, and localized thyroid pain. When people are diagnosed with thyroid nodules, there is no need to be overly worried. If the color ultrasound and thyroid function tests show no abnormalities, it is possible to observe the condition dynamically, with a follow-up check about once a year. If there is a high suspicion of malignant nodules, it is advisable to opt for early surgical removal, which typically yields very satisfactory results.
Which is more serious, pulmonary nodules or thyroid nodules?
It is impossible to compare the severity between thyroid nodules and lung nodules. Firstly, thyroid nodules and lung nodules occur in different organs. Lung nodules are mostly caused by inhalation of dust, pollutants, or smoke. Thyroid nodules, on the other hand, often result from genetic factors, or issues with the patient’s own constitution leading to the formation of these nodules. Most lung nodules can be classified as benign or malignant through diagnostic tests, whereas it is often difficult to assess the nature of thyroid nodules with standard tests. Additional auxiliary examinations, such as PET-CT or SPECT, and biopsy pathology are needed to determine the nature of thyroid nodules. Therefore, the approaches to observing and handling these two types of nodules are entirely different, and they cannot be compared.