Have you discovered the "three major disasters" during a physical examination? Don't panic, don't let the nodules become a "heart knot"!

Nowadays, more and more people are diagnosed with "nodules" during physical examinations. This originally unfamiliar word has gradually become the focus of people's attention. Many people easily associate the word "nodule" with "tumor" or "cancer", and thus become nervous and panic, fearing that the nodule is a tumor and will develop into cancer, posing unknown threats to their health.

In medicine, nodules do not represent a specific disease, but are a common imaging manifestation, which refers to a localized round or oval mass in an organ or tissue of the body. The causes of nodules are varied, including inflammation, infection, tumors, bad living habits, excessive stress and emotional instability.

Hunan Women and Children's Hospital said that nodules are divided into two categories: benign and malignant. Most nodules are benign, just like a "pimple" on the skin, which is less harmful to the human body. Malignant nodules may be an early manifestation of cancer. Don't panic if you find a "nodule". Follow the doctor's advice, do further examinations in time, and take corresponding measures according to the type of nodule.

1. Pulmonary nodules

Pulmonary nodules refer to localized round or oval shadows in the lungs, usually less than 3 cm in diameter. Their clinical manifestations are not obvious, and most patients have no obvious symptoms. Some patients may experience symptoms such as cough, chest pain, and dyspnea.

According to surveys, more than 90% of lung nodules are benign, which means that only a small number of people who have lung nodules are eventually diagnosed with lung cancer. However, this does not mean that the existence of lung nodules can be ignored. Lung cancer often has no obvious symptoms in the early stages, so follow-up and evaluation of lung nodules are crucial.

The doctor will make a comprehensive assessment based on the size, shape, texture and other factors of the nodules, combined with the patient's age, smoking history, family history, etc., to decide whether further examination and treatment are needed. For most benign lung nodules, regular examinations are recommended to monitor changes in the nodules; for lung nodules that are highly suspected of being malignant, more frequent monitoring or biopsy is required to determine their nature, followed by surgical removal or puncture biopsy.

2. Thyroid nodules

Thyroid nodules refer to localized masses in the thyroid gland, with a higher incidence in women. The causes of thyroid nodules include genetic, environmental, and immune factors. Most thyroid nodules are benign, and the proportion of malignant nodules is about 5%. Even if you are unfortunately diagnosed with thyroid cancer, don't be afraid. Thyroid cancer is called "lazy cancer". It develops slowly, has mild symptoms, and a low mortality rate. Patients who are discovered early and receive timely treatment usually have a better prognosis.

Most thyroid nodules have no obvious symptoms. Some patients may feel a lump in the neck, and a few patients may have symptoms such as swallowing discomfort and hoarseness. Thyroid nodules can be diagnosed through ultrasound examination, thyroid function test, etc. For suspected malignant thyroid nodules, fine needle aspiration biopsy is required. Benign thyroid nodules can be observed regularly and surgically removed if necessary.

3. Breast nodules

Breast nodules refer to localized masses in the breast, which often appear as breast lumps and are accompanied by pain in some patients. They can be examined through breast color ultrasound, mammography, etc. For suspected malignant breast nodules, a puncture biopsy is required. Benign breast nodules can be observed regularly and can be treated surgically if there are surgical indications.

There are many reasons for the formation of breast nodules. It may be a normal physiological phenomenon or other breast diseases, such as breast hyperplasia, mastitis, fibroids, etc. In short, breast nodules are not equal to breast cancer. The vast majority of breast nodules are benign. Doctors will evaluate breast nodules according to the BI-RADS classification, which is divided into 7 levels from 0 to 6. The higher the level, the greater the possibility of malignancy.

Although the word "nodules" makes people shudder, in fact, nodules are not as scary as everyone imagines. Most nodules are benign and have little impact on human health. The key to dealing with nodules is to insist on regular physical examinations, timely detection, diagnosis and treatment. Maintaining a good lifestyle, a balanced diet, and moderate exercise can help prevent the formation and deterioration of nodules.

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Zhou Xinyi from Hunan Women and Children's Hospital

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(Edited by Wx)