Thyroid nodules and cancer
Understanding Thyroid Nodules
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland in the lower front of the neck that produces thyroid hormones, which help regulate energy use, body temperature, and the function of various organs.
Thyroid nodules are solid or fluid-filled lumps that form within your thyroid gland and after the age of 50, up to 70% of people will have at least one small thyroid nodule.
While the majority of thyroid nodules are benign and don’t cause symptoms, some can be or become cancerous or cause other health issues.
Risk Factors for Developing Thyroid Nodules
Certain factors can increase your risk of developing thyroid nodules, including:
- Age: The risk increases as you get older.
- Gender: Women are more likely to develop thyroid nodules than men.
- Family history: A family history of thyroid nodules or thyroid cancer.
- Iodine deficiency: Lack of iodine in your diet.
- Radiation exposure: Previous radiation treatments to the head or neck.
- Thyroid conditions: Conditions like Hashimoto’s disease can cause thyroid inflammation and result in enlarged nodules.
Recognising the Symptoms of Thyroid Nodules
Most thyroid nodules don’t cause noticeable symptoms. However, if symptoms do occur, they may include:
- A visible lump: A noticeable swelling at the base of your neck.
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing: Large nodules can press on your windpipe or oesophagus.
- Hoarseness or voice changes: If the nodule presses on the nerves connected to your vocal cords.
- Pain in the neck: Discomfort or pain in the front of your neck.
- Symptoms of high thyroid hormones: Autonomous hormone producing nodule or toxic multinodular goitre
Diagnostic Methods for Thyroid Nodules
If you suspect you have a thyroid nodule, your doctor may use several methods to diagnose it:
- Physical exam: Your doctor will feel your neck for lumps and ask you to swallow. A nodule in your thyroid gland will usually move up and down when you swallow.
- Thyroid function tests: Blood tests to measure levels of thyroid hormones and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).
- Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves create images of your thyroid gland to distinguish cysts from solid nodules or to determine if multiple nodules are present.
- Fine-needle aspiration biopsy: A thin needle is used to take a sample of cells from the nodule for analysis to check for cancer.
- Thyroid scan: A radioactive iodine scan to evaluate the nodule and check how nodules respond (cancerous nodules behave differently from noncancerous ones).
Treatment Options for Thyroid Nodules
Treatment for thyroid nodules depends on the type and severity of the nodule and if it is causing high hormones.
- Watchful waiting: Regular monitoring if the nodule is benign and not causing symptoms.
- Surgery: Removal of part or all of the thyroid gland if the nodule is cancerous or causing significant symptoms.
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA): Radio waves to create heat which shrinks certain thyroid nodules.
- Radioactive iodine: Used to treat hyperthyroidism caused by overactive nodules.
- Medications: Antithyroid medication to lower thyroid hormones produced by an autonomous nodule
Understanding Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer develops in the thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck. This gland produces hormones that regulate your metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature. Thyroid cancer occurs when cells in the thyroid mutate and grow uncontrollably, forming a tumour. Most thyroid cancers are slow growing with an excellent prognosis but rarer thyroid cancers can be more aggressive with less effective treatment options.
Risk Factors for Thyroid Cancer
Several factors can increase your risk of developing thyroid cancer, including:
- Gender: Women are more likely to develop thyroid cancer than men.
- Age: Thyroid cancer can occur at any age, but certain types are more common in specific age groups.
- Radiation exposure: Previous radiation treatments to the head or neck.
- Family history: A family history of thyroid cancer or genetic syndromes.
- Iodine deficiency: living in areas with low iodine levels in the diet
Recognising the Symptoms of Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancer often does not cause symptoms in its early stages. As it grows, symptoms may include:
- A lump in the neck: A noticeable swelling at the base of your neck.
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing: Large tumors can press on the windpipe or esophagus.
- Hoarseness or voice changes: If the tumor affects the nerves connected to the vocal cords.
- Neck pain: Discomfort or pain in the front of the neck.
- Swollen lymph nodes: Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck
Diagnostic Methods for Thyroid Cancer
If you suspect you have thyroid cancer, your doctor may use several methods to diagnose it:
- Physical exam: Checking for lumps or swelling in the neck.
- Thyroid function tests: Blood tests to measure thyroid hormone levels.
- Ultrasound: Imaging to visualise the thyroid and detect abnormalities.
- Fine-needle aspiration biopsy: Removing a sample of thyroid tissue for analysis.
- Radioactive iodine scan: Detecting thyroid cancer cells using a radioactive tracer.
Treatment Options for Thyroid Cancer
Treatment for thyroid cancer depends on the type and stage of the cancer:
- Surgery: Removing part or all of the thyroid gland (thyroidectomy).
- Radioactive iodine therapy: Using radioactive iodine to destroy cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy: Using drugs to kill cancer cells, typically for advanced cancer.
- Targeted drug therapy: Drugs that target specific components of cancer cells.
- Thyroid hormone therapy: Maintaining normal thyroid hormone levels after treatment