Can thyroid nodules be felt out?

Thyroid nodules are actually a disease of thyroid tissue cell proliferation and can easily be confused with thyroid enlargement. Thyroid nodules will be clearly visible at the location of the thyroid gland in the neck. If the size of the thyroid nodule exceeds 3 cm, it can be observed with the naked eye, and a hard lump can be felt when touched with the hand. This type of nodule can be divided into benign and malignant, and its specific diagnosis requires ultrasound examination to be confirmed.

Goiter and thyroid nodules are not the same disease. Many people may feel a lump on their neck and think they have thyroid nodules, but this is not actually the case. A thyroid nodule refers to the abnormal local growth of thyroid cells, which forms a tumor. In layman's terms, it is a growth. A thyroid tumor needs to be confirmed by ultrasound examination before it can be diagnosed as a "thyroid nodule." Goiter is mainly an enlargement of the thyroid gland due to iodine deficiency, which is completely different from thyroid nodules. Thyroid nodules can be said to be a relatively broad concept, including benign and malignant tumors of the thyroid gland.

Larger or superficial thyroid nodules can be seen from their appearance. Generally speaking, thyroid nodules larger than 3 cm can be detected by the naked eye.

If you have a thyroid nodule, a lump will appear in the area of ​​the thyroid gland just in the front of your neck. The lump is on the thyroid gland and moves up and down with swallowing. During the examination, we will find that if it is a benign nodule, the surface will generally be smooth, soft, mobile, and grow slowly; if it is a malignant nodule, the surface of the lump will not be so smooth, the texture will be tough, the mobility will be poor, and it will grow rapidly in a short period of time.

In addition, malignant tumors are somewhat invasive and will invade surrounding organs. For example, invasion of the esophagus can cause difficulty in swallowing; invasion of the trachea can cause breathing disorders; invasion of the laryngeal nerve can cause hoarseness. Malignant thyroid nodules may also metastasize to the cervical lymph nodes, causing swollen cervical lymph nodes.

Thyroid nodules are lumps located inside the thyroid gland and are a symptom rather than a disease. There are many causes of thyroid nodules, mainly including three aspects. First, thyroid nodules are caused by thyroid hyperplasia; second, nodules are caused by various thyroid inflammations; third, the "tumor-like" nodules that receive the most attention in daily life and have the greatest impact on health.