Thyroid nodules are small lumps on the thyroid gland that can grow there due to an overgrowth of tissue, or they may indicate the thyroid isn't producing enough hormones and is therefore being overworked.
Thyroid nodules may be solid tissue or full of fluid. They may indicate the presence of thyroid cancer, but more than 95 percent of
thyroid nodules are benign, Endocrine Web reports.
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A fine needle aspiration biopsy, or FNA, can tell if the growth is cancerous or not. An ultrasound also is often used to determine the characteristics of thyroid nodules.
In addition to a physical examination, a doctor will draw blood to
measure thyroid hormone levels, says the American Thyroid Association.
Cancerous nodules usually are surgically removed, the American Thyroid Association explains. Most thyroid cancers can be cured and are not life-threatening. Benign nodules should be watched for six months to a year to look for worrisome signs or growth.
In addition to cancer, Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disease in the thyroid that causes it to have trouble producing hormones, and iodine deficiency appear related to the development of nodules, the American Thyroid Associations states.
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Women are more likely to develop thyroid nodules, Endocrine Web notes. The chances of getting one increases as people age, and by the age of 50, a majority of people will have had a thyroid nodule.
In most cases,
thyroid nodules result in no symptoms, says the Mayo Clinic.
A patient may find the nodule when they feel a lump on the throat or notice it in the mirror. Rarely, the nodule causes pain or prevents food from being swallowed.
Often, thyroid nodules are discovered during a routine examine by a physician or during a CT scan or MRI being performed for a completely different reason, the American Thyroid Association adds.
Most nodules re non-functioning, but sometimes they produce hormones, as well, says the American Thyroid Association. If excess amounts are produced, a patient may develop hyperthyroidism.
An enlarged and inflamed thyroid, known as a goiter, may also cause the appearance of a lump. Although benign, a goiter is not the same as a thyroid.
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