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Thyroid Nodules
Patient Education
What Is a Thyroid Nodule?
A thyroid nodule is an abnormal growth of cells that
form a lump within the thyroid. Most thyroid nodules
are benign (not cancer), but about 10 percent may
contain cancer cells. Many thyroid cancers are curable
and rarely cause life-threatening problems, but thyroid
nodules should be tested to find the best treatment.
Thyroid Nodule Symptoms
Thyroid
Trachea
Most thyroid nodules don’t cause any symptoms, but
some patients may experience these symptoms:
• Symptoms of hyperthyroid, including
nervousness, racing heart, anxiety, brittle hair,
and muscle weakness
• Pain in the neck, jaw, or ear
• A lump in the neck
• A tickle in the throat
• Hoarseness
• Difficulty swallowing or shortness of breath
if the nodule is large
Causes of Thyroid Nodules
The cause of most benign thyroid nodules is
not known. However, people with a form of
hypothyroidism called Hashimoto’s disease may
have nodules.
Diagnosing Thyroid Nodules
If you have a thyroid nodule, your doctor may
order blood tests to measure the amount of thyroid
hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).
Please see the Thyroid Function Tests factsheet for more
information about these tests.
Most people with thyroid nodules have normal thyroid
function test results. Your doctor may order one of
these procedures to learn more about the nodule:
• Fine-needle biopsy
• Ultrasound
Fine-Needle Biopsy
This procedure uses a very thin needle to take cells
from different parts of the thyroid nodule so the cells
Thyroid
Thyroid Nodule
Trachea
can be looked at under a microscope. You can get this
procedure done as an outpatient without any special
preparations such as fasting. You may get a local
anesthetic. You can usually return home or to work
without any side effects.
Test results may be one of the following:
• Benign: If the nodule does not have any cancer
cells, it is likely a colloid nodule. Colloid nodules
generally do not have to be removed. You may
need to get a future biopsy, especially if the nodule
gets bigger.
• Malignant (cancerous): If the nodule contains
cancer cells, it is usually papillary cancer, one of the
most common thyroid cancers. Cancerous nodules
should be removed by surgery.
• Suspicious: This result may indicate follicular
adenoma (not cancerous) or follicular cancer. Your
doctor may request a thyroid scan to find out
which nodules should be removed by surgery.
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• Nondiagnostic or inadequate: This result means
not enough cells were taken during the biopsy to
make a diagnosis. This is common if the nodule is
a cyst. You may need surgery to remove the nodule,
or you may need a second fine-needle biopsy.
Ultrasound
An ultrasound uses sound waves to get a picture of the
thyroid. A thyroid ultrasound alone cannot show if
cancer cells are present, but an ultrasound can help do
the following:
•
•
•
•
Place the needle during a fine-needle biopsy
Determine if a nodule is solid or if it is a cyst
Find the precise size and location of a nodule
Identify whether a nodule is growing or shrinking
over time
• Look for nodules too small to feel
Treatment
If you have a cancerous or suspicious thyroid nodule,
you will need surgery to remove it. Sometimes benign
nodules that are large or growing also need to be
removed by surgery.
If your thyroid nodule is not removed, your healthcare provider should watch it closely and examine
it every 6 to 12 months. Follow-up may include a
physical exam, ultrasound, or both. If the nodule gets
bigger, you may need another fine-needle biopsy.
Thyroid Nodules Patient Education - Page 2