Thyroid nodules

I'm Dr. Mabel Ryder, an endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic. In this video, we'll cover the basics of thyroid cancer: What is it? Who gets it? The symptoms. Diagnosis and treatment. Whether you're looking for answers for yourself or someone you love, we're here to give you the best information available. What is the thyroid? This is a butterfly shaped gland that sits at the base of your neck. It's an important gland responsible for producing hormones that control a lot of vital functions in your body, such as your heart and your heart rate, your blood pressure, your body temperature, and your weight. When thyroid cells mutate, changes to their DNA cause them to grow and multiply. Where healthy cells typically die, these abnormal cells grow and grow and eventually form a tumor. Sometimes these cells invade nearby tissue, and can spread or metastasize to other parts of the body. There are several different kinds of thyroid cancer. Some grow slowly. Others can be more aggressive. Because we're able to detect small thyroid cancers with new technology, the rate of thyroid cancer incidence has gone up. However, most cancers are very treatable and the prognosis for most patients with thyroid cancer is excellent. There are other things that can increase your chances of developing thyroid cancer. Women are three times more likely to develop thyroid cancer. And exposure to high levels of radiation, for instance, radiation therapy to the head or neck for other cancers, can increase your r...

What is a thyroid nodule? The thyroid is a small gland located at the base of your throat (near your Adam’s apple). It regulates body functions such as heart rate, metabolism, and the rate at which your body burns calories. A thyroid nodule is a lump in the thyroid gland in your neck. More than 90% of all thyroid nodules are benign (non-cancerous). Some are cysts filled with fluid. Thyroid nodules are more common in women than in men. They also tend to run in families. They are sometimes associated with the autoimmune disorder Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This condition is a common cause of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), which affects your body’s ability to maintain an efficient metabolism and burn calories. Symptoms of thyroid nodules Most thyroid nodules don’t cause symptoms. For people who do have symptoms, they may have trouble swallowing or breathing or have a feeling of fullness, pain, or pressure in the throat or neck. Some people might notice a lump in their neck when they look in the mirror, but this is uncommon. Some people experience rapid unintended weight loss, feelings of nervousness, or an irregular heartbeat. What causes thyroid nodules? Doctors aren’t always sure why some people get thyroid nodules, but they’re very common. The chances of getting one increase as you get older. Almost 50% of adults will develop thyroid nodules by the time they’re 60 years old. The nodules are sometimes associated with other medical conditions, including: • Iodine deficie...

Thyroid cancer is relatively uncommon compared to other cancers. In the United States, it is estimated that in 2021 approximately 44,000 people will receive a new diagnosis of thyroid cancer, compared to over 280,000 with breast cancer and over 150,000 with colon cancer. However, despite this, approximately 2,000 patients die of thyroid cancer each year. In 2018, the last year for which statistics are available, almost 900,000 patients were living with thyroid cancer in the United States. Thyroid cancer is usually very treatable and is often cured with surgery (see Thyroid Surgery brochure ) and, if indicated, radioactive iodine (see PAPILLARY THYROID CANCER. Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type, making up about 70% to 80% of all thyroid cancers. Papillary thyroid cancer can occur at any age. It tends to grow slowly and often spreads to lymph nodes in the neck. Papillary cancer has a generally excellent outlook, even if there is spread to the lymph nodes. FOLLICULAR THYROID CANCER. Follicular thyroid cancer makes up about 10% to 15% of all thyroid cancers in the United States. Follicular cancer can spread through the blood to distant organs, particularly the lungs and bones. Papillary and follicular thyroid cancers are also known as well–Differentiated Thyroid Cancers (DTC). The information in this brochure refers to these differentiated thyroid cancers. The other types of thyroid cancer listed below will be covered in other brochures. MEDULLARY THYROID CANCER....

You often won't know you have a thyroid nodule until your doctor discovers it during a routine medical exam. Or your doctor may uncover it during a scan that was done for another health reason. Some thyroid nodules, however, may become large enough to be visible or make it difficult to swallow or breathe. Treatment options depend on the type of thyroid nodule you have. Symptoms Most thyroid nodules don't cause signs or symptoms. But occasionally some nodules become so large that they can: • Be felt • Be seen, often as a swelling at the base of your neck • Press on your windpipe or esophagus, causing shortness of breath or difficulty swallowing In some cases, thyroid nodules produce additional thyroxine, a hormone secreted by your thyroid gland. The extra thyroxine can cause symptoms of an overproduction of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism), such as: • Unexplained weight loss • Increased sweating • Tremor • Nervousness • Rapid or irregular heartbeat Only a small number of thyroid nodules are cancerous. But determining which nodules are cancerous can't be done by evaluating your symptoms alone. Most cancerous thyroid nodules are slow growing and may be small when your doctor discovers them. Aggressive thyroid cancers are rare with nodules that may be large, firm, fixed and rapid growing. When to see a doctor Although most thyroid nodules are noncancerous and don't cause problems, ask your doctor to evaluate any unusual swelling in your neck, especially if you have trouble b...

Article: • • • • • • • • Images: • Epidemiology They are more common in females (4:1 F:M) and have an increasing prevalence with increasing age and reduced iodine intake 2,3. The incidence is estimated at 0.1% with a lifetime prevalence of 10% 3. Clinical presentation Thyroid nodules are a common incidental finding on imaging (see: 1-3. They can also be found on clinical examination as palpable lesions in the neck, although this clinical finding does not represent a thyroid nodule if there is no imaging correlate. When symptomatic, patients may present with thyroid dysfunction or rarely compressive symptoms 3. Pathology Thyroid nodules are typically benign. The prevalence of malignancy (based on biopsy) in thyroid nodules is ~10% (range 4-6-15%) 3,4. Etiology There are many causes of thyroid nodules, some of the more common causes are listed below: • benign nodules • follicular adenoma • • • thyroid cyst: simple, hemorrhagic • focal/asymmetrical thyroiditis • • • malignant nodules • primary • ​ • • • • • • • Radiographic features Ultrasound is the modality of choice for diagnostic 4. It also allows for Treatment and prognosis As thyroid nodules are commonly incidental, there are numerous classification systems to help with risk stratification. See article: See also • • 1. Nachiappan A, Metwalli Z, Hailey B, Patel R, Ostrowski M, Wynne D. The Thyroid: Review of Imaging Features and Biopsy Techniques with Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation. Radiographics. 2014;34(2):276-93. •...