Etiology, treatment and prevention of thyroid nodules

The thyroid gland is located in the front of the human neck, below the Adam's apple. It is butterfly-shaped and is the largest endocrine gland in the human body. The thyroid gland has the function of secreting thyroid hormones, which play an important role in human growth, development and metabolism.

Thyroid nodules are very common. Most thyroid nodules are not serious and do not cause any symptoms. In clinical practice, it is rare for thyroid nodules to progress to thyroid cancer. Thyroid nodules can be seen in people of all ages, and are more common in women than in men.

Causes of thyroid nodules:

It mainly includes genetic factors, dietary factors, physical factors, disease factors, etc., but there are not as many as six major causes. It is recommended that patients go to the hospital actively for treatment when they have thyroid nodules, follow the doctor's instructions to complete various examinations, and carry out targeted treatment after finding out the cause.

1. Genetic factors: Genetic enzyme defects can cause disorders in the body's synthesis of related hormones. If parents have genetic enzyme defects, it may cause thyroglobulin to be unable to separate normally and effectively, release thyroid hormones, and then increase the probability of thyroid nodules and induce the formation of thyroid nodules;

2. Dietary factors: Iodine plays a greater role in the synthesis of thyroid hormones. If there is a serious lack of iodine in the daily diet, it may cause abnormal synthesis of thyroid hormones, which may easily induce thyroid nodules in the long run;

3. Physical factors: Long-term exposure to ionizing radiation may also increase the risk of thyroid nodules;

4. Disease factors: Thyroid nodules may also be related to diseases, such as thyroid cysts, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, etc., which also play a certain role in the occurrence and development of thyroid nodules.

In addition to the above situations, excessive proliferation of normal thyroid tissue can also easily lead to the formation of thyroid nodules. Clinically, thyroid nodules are relatively common. Although most nodules are benign and generally do not require special treatment, some nodules can cause functional changes or even cancer, so they should also be taken seriously. Patients should pay attention to maintaining good living habits on a daily basis, avoid the causes of thyroid nodules, and reduce the risk of thyroid nodules.

Treatment of thyroid nodules:

Treatment methods vary from person to person and require determining the nature and function of the nodule and the extent of its adverse effects on the patient.

For benign nodules without symptoms, regular follow-up observation is recommended to prevent canceration;

For symptomatic thyroid nodules, if the nodules are large enough to cause difficulty breathing or swallowing, surgical removal is required.

In addition, no treatment method exists in isolation. The doctor will determine the most suitable personalized treatment plan for the patient based on the patient's specific situation, and observe and follow up.

1. Benign nodules: If the biopsy result shows that the nodule is benign and smaller than 3cm, and the patient has no obvious symptoms of discomfort, it is considered a benign thyroid nodule and generally does not require special treatment and can be observed regularly. If the nodule is benign, larger than 3cm, or causes physical discomfort to the patient, mainly manifested as compression symptoms or affected swallowing function, surgical treatment is required.

2. Malignant nodules: If the nodule is confirmed to be malignant through a puncture biopsy, it is considered to be thyroid cancer. The most common thyroid cancer clinically is papillary thyroid cancer. The treatment is surgical treatment, which involves removing the tumor and clearing the surrounding lymph nodes.

Thyroid nodule prevention:

Thyroid nodules can generally be prevented by keeping a regular schedule, exercising moderately, staying away from radiation, or avoiding taking special medications, and dietary adjustments can also be made. However, the preventive effects of the above measures are limited, and it is still recommended to seek medical attention in a timely manner after the appearance of thyroid nodules.

1. Regular work and rest: Pay attention to maintaining a regular life and work habits, avoid staying up late, excessive mood swings, etc., which can maintain the level of thyroid hormones and thus play a preventive role;

2. Exercise moderately: Exercise can usually improve the body's immunity and reduce the occurrence of diseases. You can choose aerobic exercises such as running and swimming, but it takes a long time to achieve a certain effect;

3. Stay away from radiation: Thyroid nodules are usually related to exposure to radiation, which can affect thyroid function and cause thyroid nodules. Therefore, you should try to avoid exposure to radiation or ionizing radiation to reduce the impact on the thyroid gland.

4. Avoid taking special drugs: Try not to take drugs that can easily affect your body's metabolism, such as diet pills, otherwise it may cause metabolic disorders and increase the risk of thyroid nodules;

5. Dietary adjustment: You usually need to pay more attention to your diet. Excessive or insufficient intake of iodine can easily cause thyroid disease. Therefore, you need to arrange the intake of iodine reasonably to reduce the impact on thyroid function.

6. In terms of high-risk diseases: the main thing to prevent is hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, thyroid cancer and other diseases. It is generally recommended that patients go to medical institutions for physical examinations regularly, such as thyroid palpation, thyroid color ultrasound, thyroid function and thyroid tumor markers. If there is a risk of related diseases, early treatment is required.

Popular Science Doctor: Guo Linsen

Workplace: Yangbu Town Central Hospital, Pingyu County