Benign Nodule Archives - ThyForLife

Thyroid Nodules: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Daniel Amoah — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 18:18:33 +0000

Imagine you’re getting ready for the day, standing in front of the mirror, and then you notice a weird lump in your neck that you haven’t really noticed before. It can be pretty alarming! And it’s absolutely normal to wonder what it might be and whether it’s serious. The truth is it could be anything from a swollen lymph node (due to an infection) to an allergic reaction. But what if it’s thyroid-related?

Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that helps regulate various bodily functions by producing and storing thyroid hormones. These hormones influence your body’s metabolism and its response to other hormones. Sometimes, lumps can develop in this gland. They are known as thyroid nodules. These are fairly common especially in older people, affecting up to half of adults by the age of 60, according to the American Thyroid Association. Thyroid nodules can indeed sometimes be a cause for concern, but you really shouldn’t panic, and we’ll explain why in the rest of this article.

What are thyroid nodules?

Simply put, thyroid nodules are abnormal growths of cells in your thyroid. They can be solid, fluid-filled (cysts), or a mix of both (complex nodules). The good news is that an overwhelming majority (over 95%) of thyroid nodules are benign, meaning they’re not cancerous.

Do thyroid nodules cause symptoms?

Most nodules are asymptomatic, meaning they do not cause any symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may include a noticeable swelling in the neck, difficulty swallowing or breathing, and hoarseness. Sometimes thyroid nodules can also cause changes in thyroid hormone levels leading to symptoms of hyperthyroidism (such as weight loss, increased heart rate, sweating) or hypothyroidism (such as weight gain, fatigue, cold intolerance).

How are thyroid nodules diagnosed?

Most nodules are found during a routine physical examination by your doctor feeling a lump in your neck, or incidentally on imaging tests done for other reasons (such as a carotid ultrasound or CT scans of the neck). But, to determine the size, number, and characteristics of thyroid nodules, a thyroid ultrasound is performed.

Depending on the size and characteristics of the nodules and on your individual risk factors, your doctor may recommend a fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. An FNA biopsy is a simple procedure where a thin needle extracts a small sample of cells from the nodule for examination under a microscope to assess the risk of cancer.

How are thyroid nodules treated or managed?

The management of thyroid nodules mainly depends on their size, whether they are causing symptoms, and the risk of cancer. If the FNA biopsy performed confirms a benign (non-cancerous) nodule, you might not need any treatment. Your doctor will likely recommend monitoring it with regular checkups and ultrasounds.

However, in some cases, medication or even minimally invasive procedures may be recommended. Let’s say the biopsy biopsy showed that the nodules are cancerous, your doctor will discuss with you a treatment plan, which might involve surgery (thyroidectomy) or radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy. These treatments will most likely result in hypothyroidism as they reduce thyroid function due to the removal or destruction of thyroid tissue, therefore necessitating lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy (usually levothyroxine) to manage the hormone deficiency.

A relatively newer procedure known as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) may be recommended in the cases of large, benign thyroid nodules. RFA involves the use of high-frequency radio waves to heat and destroy abnormal thyroid tissue. The goal is to reduce the size of the nodules without affecting the surrounding thyroid gland.

Can thyroid nodules be prevented?

Thyroid nodules are idiopathic in nature. This means that they can develop without any clear underlying reason. This makes it hard to pinpoint specific prevention strategies for this condition. That said, a healthy lifestyle and regular medical checkups can help manage the risks. If thyroid problems run in your family, it’s a good idea to be watchful for any changes in your thyroid. Other risk factors for thyroid nodules include radiation exposure (particularly in childhood), smoking, and certain hereditary syndromes (such as Cowden syndrome and Pendred syndrome).

Key takeaways

Thyroid nodules are abnormal growths of cells in the thyroid.
Thankfully, over 95% of them are benign, meaning they’re not cancerous.
They can be solid, fluid-filled cysts, or a mix of both.
Most people don’t even realize they have a nodule because they often cause no symptoms.
If you do notice a lump in your neck or experience any concerning symptoms, don’t hesitate to seek medical attention. Your doctor can perform a physical exam and may recommend an ultrasound to get a better picture of the nodule.
Most cases of thyroid nodules do not require treatment.
Advances in diagnostic techniques and treatment options continue to improve outcomes for individuals with thyroid nodules.

The post Thyroid Nodules: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options appeared first on ThyForLife.

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): A Minimally Invasive Treatment for Thyroid Nodules

Daniel Amoah — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 13:19:28 +0000

Thyroid disorders are a common health concern, affecting an estimated 200 million people globally. In the United States alone, roughly 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease, according to the American Thyroid Association. Thyroid nodules are an example of such thyroid conditions.

Thyroid nodules are abnormal growths within the thyroid gland, which is located in the neck. They can be solid or fluid-filled and are often detected during routine medical examinations or imaging studies. While most thyroid nodules are benign (non-cancerous) and therefore do not require medical intervention, sometimes the nodules can get quite large and cause discomfort or cosmetic concerns. In that case, medical intervention—often thyroid surgery—may be required.

However, owing to the emergence of an alternative treatment option which is less invasive and presents a faster recovery rate, surgery can be avoided. This procedure is known as radiofrequency ablation (RFA). In this article, we will discuss what RFA is, how it works, its applications in thyroid health, its benefits, and potential risks.

What is radiofrequency ablation and how does it work?

Radiofrequency ablation is a medical technique that uses high-frequency electrical currents to heat and destroy abnormal tissues, such as tumors. This procedure is particularly effective in treating solid tumors that are located in various organs, including the liver, kidneys, lungs, and thyroid. As far as thyroid health is concerned, RFA is mainly used to treat benign (non-cancerous) thyroid nodules.

Before recommending RFA, healthcare professionals perform a comprehensive evaluation of the patient. Typically, prior to the RFA procedure, a preliminary assessment of the nature of the thyroid is performed by means of a fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy with the help of ultrasound imaging.

Once the nodule’s benign nature has been confirmed, the procedure may be recommended. In order to control pain and movement during the procedure, RFA can be carried out on a patient under general anesthesia. However, this medical procedure is mostly performed under local anesthesia.

A needle-like probe is inserted into the thyroid nodule, with precise placement confirmed by ultrasound imaging. The probe is equipped with radiofrequency energy-emitting tips which heat up and destroy the nodule from the inside, causing it to shrink.

After RFA, patients are observed for a short period, after which they can return home the same day. This is because RFA is an outpatient procedure. Some individuals may experience mild discomfort or swelling, but this is temporary.

Applications of RFA in Thyroid Health

RFA is primarily used to treat benign thyroid nodules that cause symptoms such as having difficulty swallowing and breathing, or cosmetic concerns. It can help reduce the size of these nodules or make them disappear altogether.

It can also be considered for patients with multinodular goiter (an enlarged thyroid with multiple nodules) who are not candidates for surgery. The results of a study published in the World Journal of Surgery in 2022 suggest that ablating multiple nodules in a multinodular goiter within one session is just as effective and safe as ablating a single thyroid nodule in one session.

RFA is, however, not the only minimally invasive technique for destroying thyroid tissue. Other techniques such as ethanol ablation are more appropriate if the thyroid nodule is fluid-filled and not solid.

Benefits of RFA for Thyroid Nodules

Although a relatively new procedure, RFA is tried and tested. Several studies have examined the efficacy of this treatment technique. One of such is a comparative study in Italy whose findings, published in the journal Thyroid in 2020, demonstrate the long-lasting reduction in the size of benign thyroid nodules by RFA. Also, according to the study, the risk of requiring re-treatment after RFA is significantly low.

RFA also reduces the risk of developing hypothyroidism as compared to surgery (thyroidectomy) and radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy. Other benefits include:

faster recovery
no scarring
no need for lifelong thyroid hormone replacement medication
a very low complication rate
cosmetic improvement due to the shrinking of the nodules
improvement in quality of life through the elimination of symptoms caused by the nodules

Risks and Considerations

RFA for thyroid nodules is safe and well-tolerated. Possible major complications such as nerve injury and nodule rupture are a rarity.

Possible minor complications include skin burns, pain and other temporary side effects. Some patients may experience voice changes or discomfort in the neck, which usually resolve within a few days. In extremely rare cases, the change in the patient’s voice can be permanent.

There is also the risk of bleeding or infection, especially at the point of insertion of the probe. This is, however, also a very rare occurrence.

It is important to note that RFA is not suitable for every case of thyroid nodules. For instance, pregnant women should not undergo RFA. Similarly, people with a nodule that turns out to be malignant (cancerous) and larger than 1 cm should also not undergo RFA. For such a case of a malignant nodule, a thyroidectomy is the most appropriate treatment option.

Key Takeaways

Radiofrequency ablation has emerged as a valuable and minimally invasive treatment option for thyroid nodules, offering patients a way to address discomfort, cosmetic concerns, or thyroid function issues without the need for surgery.
RFA uses heat to destroy the thyroid tissue. The heat is generated by the passage of electric current through the target (thyroid) tissue.
RFA is an outpatient procedure, which means that you should be able to go home the same day you undergo the procedure.
Benefits include faster recovery, no scarring and no need for lifelong thyroid hormone replacement medication.
This procedure may not be appropriate for all thyroid nodules. Patients should therefore discuss their specific case with a healthcare professional to determine whether RFA is a suitable option.

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