A thyroid nodule or lesion occurs when the tissue in and around the thyroid grows abnormally. Thyroid lesions appear as small lumps in the neck and can sometimes be seen on physical exam. These cysts are usually filled with fluid. Sometimes the nodules will just have fluid, while other times the fluid will mix with thyroid cells.
Many of the thyroid injuries go unnoticed by the person who has them. This is because the lesions often have no symptoms and can be located inside the thyroid. However, if a thyroid injury becomes too large, it can affect the area around the neck and throat, causing shortness of breath or difficulty swallowing food. The injury can also produce more hormones than it is supposed to, leaving a person to experience bouts of fatigue, rapid weight loss, and other symptoms.
Only a small percentage of thyroid lesions are cancerous. A biopsy is usually done after a doctor performs a physical exam and takes a history. The biopsy will allow the doctor to see if the cells in the lesion are cancerous. An ultrasound is often used to help the doctor guide the needle used in the biopsy into the correct position. This allows the doctor to see where the cells are so they can remove more than just cystic fluid from the thyroid nodule.
If the patient has thyroid cancer, surgery will most likely be needed. The size of the thyroid lesion could also lead the patient's doctor to recommend surgery to remove the lump, even if it is not cancerous. Other tests, such as blood tests to determine hormone levels in the thyroid, may be needed to determine the severity of the injury.
Doctors can also use the differential diagnosis to help determine if a thyroid lesion is present. When a doctor does this, he is eliminating different types of ailments, one at a time, so he can be sure of his diagnosis. By diagnosing a thyroid injury, a doctor can rule out the possibility that the patient has an adenoma, nodular hyperplasia, thyroiditis, carcinoma, or lymphoma. Each of these diseases can present the same symptoms as those of a thyroid injury. By taking the time to individually rule out each of these conditions, the doctor can better diagnose and treat the patient.