Precautions for Thyroid Cysts

Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
Updated on December 23, 2024
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If an ultrasound has confirmed a diagnosis of a thyroid cyst, it's important to manage iodine intake in your diet. You should not consume too much iodine, but also not completely avoid it; a normal, regular diet is sufficient.

Secondly, it is important to monitor any changes in the size of the thyroid cyst. Regular ultrasound checks and self-examination can help observe if there's any rapid increase in size locally. If the cyst grows significantly and is accompanied by pain, it might indicate the risk of bleeding within the cyst. Normally, do not massage the thyroid cyst, as massaging will not have any beneficial effects.

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Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
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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.

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Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
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Can people with thyroid cysts eat sea fish?

The exact cause of thyroid cysts is not very clear, but some scholars believe it is related to iodine metabolism. Therefore, in areas where iodine is particularly lacking or particularly abundant, the incidence of thyroid cysts tends to increase. Hence, the diet should avoid both too low and too high iodine intake. As for eating sea fish, occasional consumption should be acceptable. However, eating sea fish daily may lead to excessive iodine intake, potentially causing further development of the cysts.

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Written by Luo Juan
Endocrinology
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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.

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Written by Luo Juan
Endocrinology
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Which department to see for thyroid cysts?

For which department to consult for thyroid cysts, firstly if it is just a routine physical examination and a thyroid ultrasound reveals a thyroid cyst, it is recommended to first consult the endocrinology department. An assessment of thyroid function should be conducted to see if the thyroid is functioning normally or abnormally. If it is confirmed to be simply a thyroid cyst, then the size of the cyst should be considered in deciding the next steps for treatment. If the cyst is not large and thyroid function is normal, it might be advisable to observe it for some time. If the cyst causes symptoms due to compression, surgical treatment in the department of surgery might be necessary, or dealing with the thyroid cyst using techniques such as radiofrequency ablation could be considered. Therefore, it is advised to first visit the endocrinology department and, based on the opinion of the endocrinologist, if surgical intervention is needed, then consult the breast and thyroid surgery department.

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Written by Zhang Li
Endocrinology
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Does thyroid cyst affect pregnancy?

Thyroid cysts generally do not affect pregnancy because they are merely morphological changes, meaning enlarged cystic nodules found in the thyroid. These nodules are typically fluid-filled and often non-functional, so they do not significantly impact pregnancy. However, since the thyroid can develop such cystic nodules or cysts, there might also be some functional manifestations. In other words, there could be both cysts and other thyroid function issues concurrently, which might affect pregnancy. Therefore, when thyroid issues are detected, it is necessary to undergo thyroid function tests before planning a pregnancy to determine whether it is safe to conceive and if there will be any impact on pregnancy.