Is a thyroid mass a tumor?

The thyroid gland in the human body plays an important role. Thyroid nodules are a phenomenon that many people have. They refer to solid or fluid-filled lumps that form within the thyroid gland, usually appearing at the base of the neck. Since thyroid nodules are usually non-cancerous, or benign, patients do not need to worry or be afraid. However, if they experience difficulty breathing or swallowing, they need to seek medical attention promptly because thyroid nodules may become cancerous.

1. What is thyroid nodule?

Thyroid nodules refer to the appearance of one or more lumps of abnormal tissue structure in the thyroid gland due to various reasons such as radiation exposure. Thyroid nodules are extremely common clinically, especially in women. Most thyroid nodules are benign, and malignant nodules only account for about 0.1% of thyroid nodules. Thyroid nodules include benign nodules, toxic nodular goiter, and simple nodular goiter. Strange lymphocytic thyroiditis, subacute thyroiditis and other diseases. Thyroid nodules are mostly benign and painful.

2. Clinical manifestations

The main symptoms are thyroid nodules or lumps, and thyroid enlargement. A small number of people develop rapidly growing local thyroid lumps accompanied by pain. A small number of patients may have palpitations, sweating, hand tremors, and weight loss as the main clinical manifestations due to combined hyperthyroidism; or may have obvious symptoms of fear of cold, fatigue, and edema due to combined hypothyroidism; when combined with acute or subacute thyroiditis, obvious pain and tenderness may occur in the thyroid and surrounding areas; when the nodules compress the surrounding tissues, corresponding clinical manifestations such as hoarseness, breath holding, and difficulty swallowing may occur.

3. Causes

1. Inflammatory nodules: acute suppurative thyroiditis, subacute thyroiditis, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, thyroid tuberculosis or syphilis.

2. Cystic nodules: cystic degeneration of thyroid nodules, cystic degeneration of thyroid cancer, hemorrhage in adenoma and carcinoma, inflammatory abscesses, congenital thyrohyoid cysts and cysts caused by remnants of the fourth branchial cleft.

3. Hyperplastic nodules: thyroid nodule disease, amyloid degeneration, excessive or insufficient iodine intake, consumption of goitrogenic substances, taking goitrogenic drugs or thyroid hormone synthesis defect, etc.

4. Tumor nodules: benign thyroid adenoma, papillary thyroid carcinoma, follicular cell carcinoma, Hurthle cell carcinoma, medullary thyroid carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, lymphadenopathy and other thyroid follicular cell and non-follicular cell malignancies and metastatic cancers.

4. Disease care

1. Avoid spicy food: chili peppers, raw onions, and raw garlic;

2. Taboo seafood: kelp, shrimp, hairtail;

3. Avoid strong tea, coffee, tobacco and alcohol;

4. Keep calm and avoid fatigue.

5. Get enough sleep and keep a good mood;

6. Relax when working or studying, and don’t put too much pressure or burden on yourself;

7. Patients should reduce their activities as much as possible and mainly rest in bed. Reduce your activity level.