What's in a nodule? Understanding thyroid nodules

A thyroid nodule is any lump or abnormal growth on the thyroid gland. This is a gland that is located just at the lower area, at the base of the neck, just below then Adam's apple. The thyroid gland looks like a butterfly and it wraps on the windpipe. These wing formations are joined by a thin bridge called the Isthmus that crosses the front of the trachea. The nodules could occur on any section of the said gland. If you have a nodule, it can be very easy to detect that you have one especially if it has become considerably big that other people can see the lump that forms underneath your skin.  If the nodule develops too low into the skin, you might have a hard time feeling the nodules.  Nonetheless, most, if not all people do not know that the nodules have actually are there unless a doctor has checked and diagnosed your neck.

With the modern medical instruments of today, such as MRI, CT scan and Ultrasound, it is possible to detect nodules on the neck. Sometimes, a person will have more than one. In the case of physical examination, only a few people will actually detect to having nodules on the neck while 30% of the patients have nodules that can be detected using MRI. His diagnosis for nodules is the most common problem analyzed in the US. As said earlier, most nodules are non cancerous and 10% of the nodules can be detected that are possibly cancerous or malignant. They differ in condition and form compared to solid nodules.

It is very common for people with nodules on their thyroid glands not to feel any symptoms or pain when they develop the nodules. However, if these nodules have cells that actually develop hormones on their own, that means the gland is producing more thyroxin than normal and this could lead to hyperthyroidism. The size of the gland can also increase as the nodules continue to expand and grow and this could lead to discomfort since the location of the thyroid gland is close to cavities like the wind pipe and the esophagus. If these cavities are pushed and blocked, the person will find it hard to swallow as well as breathe causing difficulty for the person. Sometimes, pain can also be felt. The pain can travel to various areas such as the jaw and the ears. Be watchful and observe these pains. They might be the sign of enlargement of nodules.

The nodules can range from multiple or single. The multiples are called multinodular goiter. If the nodule has blood or fluid inside, then it is called a cyst. If it produces hormones that are exceeding the needs of the body, then this is an autonomous nodule. This can be a possible sign of hyperthyroidism. In some cases, the thyroid may have been enlarged but due to inflammation and so the thyroid is not capable of producing enough thyroxin causing hypothyroidism. For the non cancerous types of nodules, the most common ones are called the follicular and colloid nodules. Another form is the Hurthle cell adenoma. Again, it is important to make someone aware that a very small percentage of nodules are possibly malignant. For these malignant nodules, they are differentiated based on what they contain. A nodule could be follicular, papillary, anaplastic or medullary. The prognosis will depend on the kind of cell as well as the extend of the spread of the cancer on the thyroid area.