Understanding Thyroid Nodules Thyroid nodules are common and usually benign, but there are factors that increase the suspicion of cancer. These include age, history of radiation exposure, family history of thyroid cancer, and certain characteristics of the nodule itself. Diagnostic tests such as ultrasound and fine needle aspiration can help determine if further investigation is needed.
Types and Causes of Thyroid Nodules There are several types of benign thyroid nodules including adenoma, toxic multinodular goiter, cysts, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Only 5% of thyroid nodules are cancerous with papillary thyroid cancer being the most common type. Features suggesting a higher risk for malignancy include non-functional nature or irregular shape.
Diagnosis & Treatment Options The diagnostic process involves assessing TSH levels in blood along with an ultrasound to evaluate suspicious features like size or vascularity. Fine needle aspiration may be performed based on these findings to classify results into different categories ranging from non-diagnostic to malignant growths requiring a partial or complete removal (thyroidectomy). Low TSH levels indicate hyperthyroidism which requires additional testing using a radionucleotide scan for further evaluation.