Thyroid Nodule Treatment

The thyroid is a small gland at the base of the neck that produces and stores hormones. These hormones affect many systems of the body. In some people, the thyroid develops nodules. This condition is quite common; in fact, nearly one in three women have a thyroid nodule that can be detected by ultrasound. Other nodules are large enough to be seen or felt in a physical exam at your doctor's office.

What Is a Thyroid Nodule?

A thyroid nodule is a small fluid- or tissue-filled lump within the thyroid. The majority of thyroid nodules are benign (non-cancerous). Many thyroid nodules don't even cause symptoms. Because they can be so small, you may not realize you have a thyroid nodule without a screening. If the nodule is large enough, it could cause some symptoms.

Thyroid Nodules Symptoms

Thyroid nodules may cause the following symptoms:

Pressure/swelling at the base of the neck, which could cause shortness of breath or difficulty swallowing
Increased thyroxine production, which could cause unexplained weight loss, increased sweating, rapid/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms

Thyroid Nodules Causes

There are many possible causes of thyroid nodules, including cysts, chronic inflammation of the thyroid, iodine deficiency and overgrowth of healthy thyroid tissue (an issue that occurs in some people for unknown reasons).

Do Thyroid Nodules Go Away?

Thyroid nodules rarely "disappear" on their own without medical intervention. Some nodules may fluctuate in size over time. You may notice your thyroid nodule reduces in size for a period of time and then return to its original size. This change may be brought on by diet, fluctuations in hormonal balance and other factors; sometimes there is no determinable cause for the change. Ultimately, most thyroid nodules require either "watchful waiting" (regular monitoring of a benign nodule) or some kind of treatment.

It's important to see a healthcare provider for thyroid screenings (if recommended by your doctor) or if you notice any unusual lumps or bumps around the thyroid in the base of the neck. A physician may be able to diagnose thyroid nodules on sight or through other diagnostic methods, such as thyroid function test, fine-needle aspiration biopsy, ultrasound or a radioactive iodine uptake test.