Thyroid Nodules
What are Thyroid Nodules?
Thyroid nodules are abnormal growths of thyroid tissue that form a lump or swelling within the thyroid gland. These can occur at any age, however become more common as you age and are more prominent in women compared to men. The prevalence of nodules is 4% by palpation, up to 68% by ultrasound examination, and 50% on autopsy. 95% of thyroid nodules are benign.
It is not uncommon for patients with a solitary thyroid nodule to have a hyperthyroidism diagnosis. In this setting, the nodule may be representative of a solitary hyperfunctioning nodule in a normal thyroid gland; or a hyperfunctioning or nonfunctioning nodule occurring within a toxic multinodular goiter, within a Graves’ disease or destructive thyroiditis setting, or in an individual with a less common cause of thyrotoxicosis.
Most thyroid nodules are asymptomatic.
*Information supplied is for educational purposes only and not intended to diagnose or treat a condition. Refer to your medical professional.
Listen to a functional thyroid expert talk about nodules.
Characteristics
- Solid or cystic, or have aspects of both
- Single nodule or be present as multiple nodules
- Small or large
- Typically slow-growing, some nodules may grow rapidly while others may shrink
- Occasionally large enough to compress throat structures, causing pain, or difficulty swallowing or breathing
- Rarely affect the vocal cords and cause hoarseness
- Produce thyroid hormones (T4, T3), but most do not (non-functional thyroid nodules)
Initial Testing
It is vital to have your nodules properly tested to ensure you get the best treatment. Testing through your Dr may include:
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- Thyroid Ultrasound
- Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA, FNAB) – in this procedure a thin needle is inserted into the thyroid and a small amount of tissue and/or fluid is removed.
- Functional thyroid tests – TSH, fT3, Ft4 minimum. We would also add reverse T3 and antibody testing.
- FDG-PET scan (fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography)
- Additional testing can also include; calcitonin, Molecular tests.
Thyroid gland tumour, computer illustration.
Hot, Warm, or Cold Nodules
If your testing discovers a hot nodule, the nodule may become more metabolically active as it enlarges, in turn, increasing amounts of thyroid hormone and the TSH will become gradually lower. If excess amounts of thyroid hormone are being produced by a hot nodule, the remainder of the thyroid gland may appear cold or absent on a thyroid scan “turned off”.
Warm nodules suggest normal thyroid function, and cold nodules indicate hypofunctional or non-functional thyroid tissue.
Treatment
You will be guided to the best course of treatment by your endocrinologist. However, most cases are benign and no treatment is offered, regularly annual scans to observe are requested.
The team at The Lucy Rose Clinic can support you at any stage of the health journey. If you require treatment from your Doctor, we can work alongside this to help you get the best result.
Did you know that diet plays a big role in driving or reducing nodules? Learn more about the best diet – CLICK HERE
If you have not been given any treatment, we can do our own testing to see if you qualify for iodine treatment. Iodine deficiency is usually the root cause of nodular growth. Learn more about iodine – CLICK HERE.
We also run estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone tests to assess these hormones, as poor estrogen metabolism is another driver of nodular growth. Discover more about these tests here. This is often a factor when the thyroid is working sub-optimally, as the body’s detoxification pathways can slow down, particularly if there are other genetic factors at play such as MTHFR gene mutation.
