Can thyroid nodules be cured? What are the treatments?

Thyroid nodules are a common thyroid disease, affecting approximately 4% of adults. The treatment of thyroid nodules is relatively mature, and the treatment methods vary from person to person. Friends who are interested may wish to learn more about it.

1) Thyroid hormone: The usual dosage of dried thyroid preparations is 90-180 mg per day, and the course of treatment is generally 3-6 months. If there is a relapse after stopping the drug, the treatment can be repeated to maintain the basal metabolic rate within the normal range. For young patients in the early stages, levothyroxine (Euthyrox) can be treated with 100 ug per day, and the value can be increased to 150-200 ug per day in the second month. Serum TSH concentration measurement can estimate the degree of thyroid suppression. Older patients or those with long-term multinodular goiter should undergo serum high-sensitivity TSH concentration measurement or TRH stimulation test before receiving levothyroxine treatment to determine whether there is obvious functional autonomy. If the basal TSH is extremely low or undetectable and the TSH response to TRH is low or absent, it indicates functional autonomy and levothyroxine should not be used for suppressive treatment. If functional autonomy can be ruled out, levothyroxine treatment can be used. The initial dose should not exceed 50ug per day, and the dose should be gradually increased until the TSH value reaches the inhibition endpoint. Nodular goiter does not respond as well to levothyroxine as diffuse goiter, but it also has a certain effect in inhibiting its further enlargement.

2) Iodine supplementation: Iodine supplementation should be reasonable for those with simple iodine deficiency. After supplementation, the thyroid gland can be seen to shrink to varying degrees. The available preparations include compound iodine oral solution (Lugol solution), potassium iodide, iodized oil intramuscular injection, etc. It is rarely used nowadays.

3) Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine: Phlegm-resolving and hard-hard softening method: Patients with only a thick neck and no special subjective symptoms belong to the syndrome of qi stagnation and phlegm accumulation. Treatment should be based on the method of resolving phlegm and hard-hard softening. Seaweed, kelp, Fritillaria thunbergii, green peel, pumice, and pinellia tuber can be used. In addition, eat appropriate amounts of seafood such as kelp and jellyfish or foods rich in iodine.

4) Indications for surgical treatment: patients with clinical symptoms caused by compression of the trachea, esophagus or recurrent laryngeal nerve; patients with retrosternal goiter; patients with huge goiter affecting their daily life and work; patients with nodular goiter and secondary hyperfunction; patients with suspected malignant transformation of nodular goiter.