Thyroid Nodules Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland that produces the thyroid hormones, T3 and T4, which are essential for body metabolism, as well as regulating body temperature, heart rate, and utilization of fats and carbohydrates. It also makes calcitonin, a hormone that regulates the amount of calcium in the blood.

On either side of the thyroid gland are two lobes, that sometimes due to malfunction of the thyroid, cause growths to appear. These growths are called nodules, or cysts, that can be felt on the outside of the throat. What exactly causes these nodules is not known, but there are several factors that exist, such as:

• Insufficient iodine production


• Hashimoto's disease


• A genetic defect of receptors that release thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)


• Radiation treatments to your head or neck in childhood

Nodule Types:

• Colloid nodule: Noncancerous (benign) growths of normal thyroid tissue.


• Follicular adenoma: A benign nodule


• Thyroid cyst (nodule): Can be fluid-filled which are usually benign. Complex cysts are solid and can be malignant.


• Inflammatory nodule (cyst): Due to chronic inflammation (thyroiditis)


• Multinodular goiter: Swelling of the thyroid due to many thyroid nodules.


• Hyperfunctioning thyroid nodule: Nodules that produce thyroid hormones regardless of the influence of TSH

Risk factors for the development of thyroid nodules:

• Family history


• Gender - More women than men develop thyroid nodules


• Exposure to radiation


• Thyroiditis

Most nodules are benign, but they can interfere with ability to breathe and swallow.

Symptoms:

• Tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure (CHF)


• Weak, brittle bones (osteoporosis).


• Thyrotoxic crisis (thyroid storm)

Diagnostic testing:

• Thyroid function tests


• Fine-needle biopsy


• Ultrasonography


• Thyroid scan

Treatment:

Most all thyroid nodules are benign, therefore, your health care provider may take a wait-and-see approach, but if you are not comfortable with this, by all means speak up and make your concerns known and ask about other options.

Thyroid hormone suppression therapy: Treatment using levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Synthroid), which replaces the hormones not being produced by the thyroid.

Radioactive iodine: Taken orally via capsule or liquid.

Surgery: Involves the total or partial removal of the thyroid.

If a thyroidectomy is performed, the patient will need to take thyroid replacement therapy for the rest of his/her life. However, if only part of the thyroid is removed, the remaining thyroid is capable of producing enough thyroid hormones in sufficient amounts. Complications of thyroidectomy include:

Bleeding and airway obstruction Permanent hoarse or weak voice Hypoparathyroidism - decreased function of the parathyroid glands, Hypocalcemia - low blood calcium level

An Important thing to remember is that you can live a full and productive life without your thyroid gland. You will just need to replace the hormone that normally would have been produced by a functioning thyroid for the rest of your life. Many people are living without their thyroid just fine by taking their medication daily as prescribed by their physician.

by Barb Hicks, RN/LMT