What should I do about a thyroid cyst?

Written by Luo Juan
Endocrinology
Updated on September 16, 2024
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What should I do if I have a thyroid cyst? First, we need to understand what a thyroid cyst is. A thyroid cyst refers to a fluid-filled sac found in the thyroid gland. Generally, patients with thyroid cysts do not show any clinical symptoms in the early stages. Some discover a lump accidentally, usually without systemic symptoms. Individual patients may exhibit symptoms such as hyperthyroidism, and some with a longer disease course can also experience hypothyroidism, such as fatigue, poor appetite, constipation, and edema. Therefore, when diagnosed with a thyroid cyst, it is crucial to determine whether the cyst is benign or malignant and whether it affects thyroid function. If it does impact function, symptomatic treatment is necessary. Of course, most thyroid cysts are benign and can be monitored over time.

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What are the symptoms of thyroid cysts?

Thyroid cysts generally refer to a cystic mass found in the thyroid, typically containing a mixture of fluid or semi-solid fluid. The mass usually has clear boundaries and is painless. It can move up and down with swallowing, which distinguishes it from some subcutaneous nodules. Thyroid cysts generally do not show obvious symptoms or clinical signs and are mostly discovered when looking in the mirror or during a physical examination. However, larger thyroid cysts may cause compression symptoms, such as pressing backward against the trachea or esophagus, leading to symptoms like breathlessness and discomfort swallowing. A small portion may also exhibit signs of thyroid dysfunction, such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, although this is relatively rare in clinical settings.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Can thyroid cysts drink soy milk?

Patients with thyroid cysts can generally drink soy milk. First, let's understand what a thyroid cyst is. A thyroid cyst is a fluid-containing sac found in the thyroid gland. The lump is usually round, with a diameter of 2-5 cm, smooth, and generally painless or slightly painful. Most are solitary nodules, with multiple nodules being rare. Thyroid cysts usually do not display symptoms unless the cyst is large or there is some bleeding inside the cyst, which may cause symptoms of compression such as pain, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, and hoarseness. Therefore, for thyroid cysts, if malignant, surgical removal is required; if benign, they are typically observed with follow-up. Thus, patients with thyroid cysts can drink soy milk.