Causes of thyroid nodules

Written by Zhang Jun Jun

Endocrinology

Updated on June 13, 2025

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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.

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Written by Hu Jian Zhuo

Nephrology and Endocrinology

33sec

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Does thyroid nodule puncture hurt?

Fine needle aspiration is an invasive examination, but it is currently an important and most efficient method for assessing benign and malignant conditions, generally conducted under ultrasound guidance. Thyroid nodule aspiration does not cause much pain, similar to that of an injection. Anesthetics are used during the procedure, so the pain is not very noticeable. However, as the effect of the anesthetic wears off, there may still be some pain at the puncture site, but the patients do not need to carry a heavy psychological burden.

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Written by Hu Jian Zhuo

Nephrology and Endocrinology

46sec

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How to treat thyroid nodules?

Clinically, if a thyroid nodule is confirmed to be a benign tumor, generally speaking, if thyroid function is normal and the nodule is not large, urgent treatment is not necessary, and regular follow-up is sufficient. If the thyroid nodule significantly enlarges, causing compression of the trachea or nerves, surgery should be considered. Furthermore, for ectopic growth of thyroid tissue behind the sternum, surgical removal is also considered necessary. Another scenario that requires special mention is if a thyroid nodule grows rapidly in a short period and ultrasound suggests calcification or bleeding within the cyst, thyroid cancer should be suspected. In this case, it's advisable to have the nodule surgically removed.

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Written by Li Jin Quan

General Surgery

50sec

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Thyroid nodule calcification meaning

In our thyroid ultrasound, terms like thyroid nodule calcification are often seen. Thyroid nodule calcification is a form of self-healing. It can be divided into large and small nodule calcifications. Generally, large nodule calcifications have a very low proportion of malignancy. The possibility of malignancy in smaller calcifications is relatively higher. When we see a report indicating thyroid nodule calcification, there is no need to panic. We can consult specialists such as thyroid surgeons, who will tell you how to distinguish between benign and malignant conditions. I recommend performing thyroid cytological puncture, which, through pathological examination, can determine whether the thyroid nodule calcification is benign or malignant.

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Written by Zhang Peng

General Surgery

35sec

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Thyroid nodule surgery risks

The hazards of thyroid surgery actually refer to the risks involved in thyroid surgery. Thyroid surgery is now a common treatment method. The main risks of thyroid surgery include anesthesia on one hand, and postoperative bleeding on the other. There might be a need for a second incision for decompression. The most common complications are choking while drinking water and hoarseness of voice, mainly due to the involvement or damage to relevant nerves during the surgery. Generally, these complications resolve after a period of adjustment, and most people can recover normally.

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Written by Chen Xie

Endocrinology

48sec

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The difference between thyroid enlargement and thyroid nodules

Thyroid enlargement generally refers to simple thyroid enlargement, which is typically diffuse thyroid enlargement, mainly caused by iodine deficiency, commonly seen in endemic goiter and physiological thyroid enlargement. Thyroid nodules, on the other hand, are nodular hyperplasia of the thyroid caused by certain physical and chemical factors. Thyroid nodules can manifest as benign hyperplasia or malignant hyperplasia. Therefore, the risks associated with thyroid nodules are relatively greater than those of thyroid enlargement. However, some patients with thyroid enlargement, as the disease progresses, can develop nodular hyperplasia of the thyroid. These are the differences between the two.