Whats The Treatment For A Thyroid Nodule
Even a benign growth on your thyroid gland can cause symptoms. If a thyroid nodule is causing voice or swallowing problems, your doctor may recommend treating it with surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland.
If the doctor recommends removal of your thyroid , you may not even have to worry about a scar on your neck. Some patients are good candidates for a scarless thyroid procedure, where the surgeon reaches the thyroid through an incision made on the inside of your lower lip.
A newer alternative that the doctor can use to treat benign nodules in an office setting is called radiofrequency ablation . Radiofrequency ablation uses a probe to access the benign nodule under ultrasound guidance, and then treats it with electrical current and heat that shrinks the nodule. Its simple: Most people treated with RFA are back to their normal activities the next day with no problems.
The Johns Hopkins Thyroid and Parathyroid Center
Our thyroid experts in the head and neck endocrine surgery team diagnose and treat patients with a variety of thyroid and parathyroid conditions. Learn about what we offer at our center.
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- Is my thyroid nodule cancer? If it isnt now, does this mean that I am more prone to developing thyroid cancer?
- Will my children be more likely to get thyroid nodules?
- What is the best treatment for my thyroid nodules?
- If I have one thyroid nodule now and it goes away, will it come back?
- What can I do at home to prevent thyroid nodules?
- Do you have any educational materials I can read?
- Can you recommend any websites?
Thyroid Nodule Symptom # : A Cough That Just Won’t Go Away Frequent Coughing And A Need To Keep Clearing Your Throat
- What to do about it?
Thyroid nodules that cause the patient to cough should always be evaluated with an ultrasound scan. Occasionally a CAT scan is required because it is better at looking at big thyroid goiters than ultrasound is . Sometimes it just can’t be known for sure if the thyroid nodule is actually causing the coughing. Often these patients undergo a laryngoscopy . If the thyroid nodule is causing the coughing, or there is a high likelihood it is the cause, then surgery is indicated. Of course, it is now very important for you to chose your surgeon wisely. The nerves to the vocal cords are occasionally damaged by a surgeon removing a thyroid and this will cause severe hoarseness and a loss of voice for months or even forever. We have an entire page dedicated to helping you chose a surgeon wisely!
Also Check: Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies Greater Than 1000
Do They Go Away On Their Own
According to an ATA study, thyroid nodules that occur due to iodine deficiency may resolve on their own over time if people increase their iodine intake. In 618 participants with thyroid nodules, roughly one-third of single nodules were no longer present at the 11-year follow-up.
The researchers concluded that increasing iodine intake through iodized salt might be the reason for the disappearance of the nodules.
In other cases, benign thyroid nodules may grow larger over time, and people may need treatment to remove them.
What To Do If You Notice Signs Of Thyroid Cancer
If you experience signs of thyroid cancer, its important to consult with your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis.
First, your doctor may conduct a physical examination, manually palpating your neck and throat to check for abnormal growths or areas of swelling, including the thyroid and lymph nodes. Your doctor may also gather your personal and family medical history, ask about your symptoms and risk factors, including any inherited genetic mutations.
A blood test called a tumor marker test may be recommended to check for high levels of certain hormones, such as:
- Triiodothyronine
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone
If cancer is suspected, one or more of the following diagnostic tests may be ordered:
Ultrasound. An ultrasound over the neck region may be done to locate any nodules that are present on your thyroid and determine whether theyre made up of solid or liquid material.
Chest X-ray: This basic imaging test may be done if your doctor suspects the cancer has metastasized to your lungs.
Magnetic resonance imaging scan: Using magnets, an MRI scan creates highly detailed images of the thyroid and surrounding areas.
Computed tomography scan or positron emission tomography scan: A CT scan uses contrast dye that helps your doctor pinpoint the size and location of your cancer, and whether it has metastasized to surrounding tissues. A PET scan is similar but uses an injection of radioactive sugar instead of contrast dye .
Expert
Also Check: Hashimoto’s And Eye Floaters
Dont Ignore That Pesky Cough
What does a cough have to do with your thyroid?How do you know if you have thyroid cancer?Brian Jameson, DO, is an endocrinologist at Geisinger. To schedule an appointment, please call 800-275-6401.
Geisinger Health Plan may refer collectively to Geisinger Health Plan, Geisinger Quality Options Inc., and Geisinger Indemnity Insurance Company, unless otherwise noted. Geisinger Gold Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and HMO D-SNP plans are offered by Geisinger Health Plan/Geisinger Indemnity Insurance Company, health plans with a Medicare contract. Continued enrollment in Geisinger Gold depends on annual contract renewal. Geisinger Health Plan Kids and Geisinger Health Plan Family are offered by Geisinger Health Plan in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services . Geisinger Health Plan is part of Geisinger, an integrated health care delivery and coverage organization.
Thyroid Enlargement And Difficulty Swallowing
Thyroid enlargement can cause difficulty swallowing, or dysphagia, as a result of the thyroid gland directly compressing the swallowing organs. The thyroid gland, which is usually about the size of a quarter, can become enlarged as a symptom of various thyroid disorders, as well as other medical conditions. While not all patients with enlarged thyroid glands experience compressive symptoms, studies have shown that up to 33% of those with benign goiters do report difficulty swallowing and shortness of breath.
Conditions associated with enlarged thyroid include:
Thyroid cancer and other medical conditions can also contribute to or cause thyroid enlargement.
You May Like: Do You Need To Fast For A Thyroid Test
Common Thyroid Symptoms You Probably Arent Aware Of
The following symptoms are fairly common among those with thyroid disease even if theyre a surprise to you.
Other symptoms of thyroid disease include hoarseness, mood swings, fertility problems, peripheral neuropathy, constipation, poor temperature regulation, muscle weakness, eye pain and pressure, vertigo, depression, headaches, shortness of breath and wounds that heal slowly.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and havent been diagnosed with thyroid disease, we suggest contacting your Portland ENT specialist for an examination.
Who Is At Risk For Hyperthyroidism
You are at higher risk for hyperthyroidism if you:
- Are a woman
- Are older than age 60
- Have been pregnant or had a baby within the past 6 months
- Have had thyroid surgery or a thyroid problem, such as goiter
- Have a family history of thyroid disease
- Have pernicious anemia, in which the body cannot make enough healthy red blood cells because it does not have enough vitamin B12
- Have type 1 diabetes or primary adrenal insufficiency, a hormonal disorder
- Get too much iodine, from eating large amounts of foods containing iodine or using iodine-containing medicines or supplements
Recommended Reading: Switching From Synthroid To Armour Side Effects
Hypothyroidism Can Also Cause Changes In Your Voice
If you have a morning cough and you notice a change in your voice, that’s even more reason to see an endocrinologist or have your general practitioner check your thyroid levels with a blood test. A study published in Jun. 2019 in The Eurasian Journal of Medicine looked at voice characteristics in patients with thyroid disorder, and found a connection between thyroid disease and voice quality. “Thyroid gland disorders cause minor changes in acoustic voice parameters of patients with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, but perceptual deviations in these patients are especially noticeable,” the study concluded.
Due to the thyroid gland‘s location in the body, under the larynx and in the lower front part of the neck, a change in hormone levels can lead to a fluid build-up in the vocal folds. “And when the thyroid gland enlarges due to disease, the vocal cords can become pinched or partially paralyzed due to their snug proximity,” Thyroid Symptoms explains.
And for more health news sent right to your to your inbox, .
Are Thyroid Nodules Cancer
The vast majority more than 95% of thyroid nodules are benign . If concern arises about the possibility of cancer, the doctor may simply recommend monitoring the nodule over time to see if it grows.
Ultrasound can help evaluate a thyroid nodule and determine the need for biopsy. A thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy can collect samples of cells from the nodule, which, under a microscope, can provide your doctor with more information about the behavior of the nodule.
Recommended Reading: Normal Levothyroxine Dose
What Is The Thyroid
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the back of the throat. It plays a pivotal role in controlling metabolism, producing hormones that are responsible for many of the bodys daily functions. Every tissue and organ in the human body is affected by the thyroid.
Thyroid disease occurs under a variety of conditions. Sometimes, too little thyroid hormone is produced, resulting in hypothyroidism, a condition in which the metabolism slows down, causing symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue and depression. An overactive thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone, speeding up the bodys metabolism hyperthyroidism causes a faster heartrate, weight loss, tremors and more.
Other thyroid diseases include nodules, small lumps that form on the thyroid goiter, an enlarged thyroid and several types of thyroid cancer, most of which respond very well to treatment.
Surprising Symptoms Of Thyroid Disease
Thyroid disease in Portland is common its believed that around 20 million people throughout the United States have a thyroid disorder of some sort a number equivalent to 12 percent of the population. Despite its prevalence, there is a widespread lack of knowledge about what its like to have thyroid disease. Youll probably find some of the symptoms surprising.
Recommended Reading: What Does Tpo Stand For Thyroid
What The Thyroid Gland Does
To understand why some types of goiter develop, it is first important to know what the normal function of the thyroid gland is and how it is regulated. The thyroid gland makes and releases into blood two small chemicals, called thyroid hormones: thyroxine and triiodothyronine . Each of them is comprised of a pair of connected tyrosine amino acids to which four or three iodine molecules, respectively, are attached.
The iodine needed for thyroid hormone production comes from our diet in seafood, dairy products, store bought bread, and iodized salt. Once absorbed, iodine in blood is trapped by a special pump in thyroid cells, called the sodium-iodide symporter. The thyroid also has several specialized biochemical ‘fastening machines,’ called enzymes, that then carry out the steps needed to attach iodine to particular parts of a very big protein called thyroglobulin, which is made only by thyroid cells.
Some of this thyroglobulin with iodine molecules attached is stored in the gland in the form of a gooey paste called colloid, which is normally located in the center of follicles, which are balls of thyroid cells with a hollow center.
Symptoms Of Thyroid Nodules
Most thyroid nodules dont cause symptoms. For people who do have symptoms, they may have trouble swallowing or breathing or have a feeling of fullness, pain, or pressure in the throat or neck. Some people might notice a lump in their neck when they look in the mirror, but this is uncommon. Some people experience rapid unintended weight loss, feelings of nervousness, or an irregular heartbeat.
You May Like: T3 T4 Combination Dosage
Prevalence Of Lprd And Average Score Of Lprd Symptoms In Patients With Goiter And Controls
The total prevalence of LPRD in patients with goiter as indicated by an RSI score greater than 10 was 15.4% versus 9.1% in controls. The difference was not statistically significant . See .
Looking at the average score of the individual symptoms as listed in the RSI questionnaire, the average score of all the symptoms was higher in patients with goiter versus controls but not significantly higher. See .
Thyroid Phlegm In Throat
Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!
Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!
HealthTap doctors are based in the U.S., board certified, and available by text or video.
Don’t Miss: Thyroxine Tablet Side Effects
What Are The Symptoms Of Hyperthyroidism
The symptoms of hyperthyroidism can vary from person to person and may include:
- Nervousness or irritability
- Imaging tests, such as a thyroid scan, ultrasound, or radioactive iodine uptake test. A radioactive iodine uptake test measures how much radioactive iodine your thyroid takes up from your blood after you swallow a small amount of it.
How Thyroid Enlargement Can Affect Swallowing
Swallowing is a complex process which involves the brain, several muscles, nerves and valves, and the esophagus working together in 3 phases. In phase I, the food is held in the mouth by the tongue and palate. During phase II, the brains decision to swallow triggers a series of reflexes, simultaneously sending the food into the pharynx, opening a muscular valve to allow food into the esophagus, and closing the trachea to keep food from going into the airways. In phase III, the food enters into the esophagus which contracts, opening a valve and propelling the food into the stomach.
When the thyroid gland becomes significantly enlarged, the goiter can begin to compress the esophagus , leading to dysphagia, as well as breathing difficulties in some cases. Patients with compressing symptoms often feel a sensation of food stuck in the throat or choking. Studies involving patients with compressing symptoms showed that nodule size and lobe size directly affected the ability to swallow.
Read Also: Hypothyroidism Double Chin
If You’re Coughing At This Time Of Day Get Your Thyroid Checked Experts Say
The average healthy adult coughs about 19 times a day, according to research published in the European Respiratory Journal. So reacting to a tickle or clearing your throat a couple of times an hour certainly isn’t anything to panic about. Coughing is a spontaneous and important reflex to remove mucus, dust, and germs from your throat. But if your airway seems to always be dry and you even have shortness of breath, it could be something worth looking into. Additionally, if your urge to cough frequently comes in the morning, you should get your thyroid levels checked. Read on to find out why, and for more on symptoms related to this key gland, check out If You Notice This on Your Nails, Get Your Thyroid Checked, Doctors Say.
What Are Thyroid Nodules
A thyroid nodule is a lump that can develop in your thyroid gland. It can be solid or filled with fluid. You can have a single nodule or a cluster of nodules. Thyroid nodules are relatively common and rarely cancerous.
Your thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland located near your larynx and in front of the trachea . This gland produces and secretes two hormones that affect your heart rate, body temperature, and many body processes a group of chemical reactions that collectively are known as metabolism.
Thyroid nodules are classified as cold, warm, or hot, depending on whether they produce thyroid hormones or not: Cold nodules dont produce thyroid hormones. Warm nodules act as normal thyroid cells. Hot nodules overproduce thyroid hormones.
More than 90 percent of all thyroid nodules are benign . Most thyroid nodules arent serious and cause few symptoms. And its possible for you to have a thyroid nodule without even knowing it.
Unless it becomes large enough to press against your windpipe, you may never develop noticeable symptoms. Many thyroid nodules are discovered during imaging procedures done to diagnose something else.
You may have a thyroid nodule and not have any noticeable symptoms. But if the nodule gets large enough, you may develop:
- an enlarged thyroid gland, known as a goiter
- pain at the base of your neck
- swallowing difficulties
- breathing difficulties
- hoarse voice
- rapid, irregular heartbeat
Youre more likely to develop thyroid nodules if:
Don’t Miss: Can I Take Collagen With Hypothyroid
Thyroid Nodule Symptom # : A Feeling Like Things Get Stuck In Your Throat Sometimes When Eating
- What to do about it?
A thyroid nodule that causes any symptom of swallowing will need to be removed with surgery. The vast majority of these are simply large, benign goiters and only very few are cancerous. But like almost all thyroid nodules that cause symptoms, surgery will be necessary for this group. Many of these goiters won’t need a biopsy because it can be hard to get all the way to the back of the neck with a needle. Almost all of these will need a CAT scan to give the surgeon a better understanding of how big the goiter is and where it goes.
Key Issues In Goiter & Thyroid Nodule
Whenever a person has a goiter or thyroid nodule, three questions must be answered.
Table 2. Key Issues to Evaluate in a Person with a Goiter or Thyroid Nodule
Also Check: What Is Levothyroxine Used For In Humans