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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. For more information call 1-888-424-2100 or visit www.huntsmancancer.org Produced by HCI © 2014 • Approved by a team of medical, health, and communications specialists • September 2014 • Revision Date September 2017 • 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