Thyroid nodules are very common, especially in middle-aged women. Thyroid nodules are divided into two categories: benign and malignant, with benign nodules accounting for the majority of cases. The incidence of multiple nodules is higher than that of single nodules, but the incidence of thyroid cancer is higher in single nodules. 1. Relationship between thyroid nodules and iodine intake Before the mandatory iodized salt system was implemented in China, most thyroid nodules developed due to iodine deficiency. However, if iodine intake is excessive, thyroid nodules can also occur. For example, Wenzhou is located on the coast, and people who eat a lot of seafood with high iodine content for a long time and use iodized salt in their regular diet may cause iodine overdose. The high incidence of thyroid nodules in the Wenzhou area may be related to the excessive iodine intake of the public. 2, the relationship between the high incidence of thyroid nodules and detection technology In the past, when the thyroid gland was examined during medical checkups, it was mostly done by surgical palpation. The location of the thyroid gland is relatively hidden, and even doctors with a lot of experience often find it difficult to detect small thyroid nodules, so the detection rate of thyroid nodules is low. In recent years, the incidence of thyroid lesions has continued to rise as pollution from harmful substances in the environment becomes more and more serious and radioactive substances continue to increase. It is quite necessary to include thyroid ultrasound in routine medical examinations. Through thyroid ultrasound, 10-20% of people can detect thyroid problems, the majority of which are thyroid nodules. 3. What should I do if a thyroid nodule is found during a physical examination? When a thyroid nodule is found during a physical examination, it needs to be identified by a thyroid specialist. Most of the thyroid nodules found during physical exams are natural and do not require any treatment or handling even if they are found. 4.What kind of thyroid nodules found during physical examination should be considered as possible thyroid cancer? A. Isolated thyroid nodules, clinically, thyroid cancer should be excluded. B. Hard and uneven nodules on surgical palpation, accompanied by enlarged cervical lymph nodes. C. With laryngeal nerve paralysis or previous history of neck radiation. D. One nodule among multiple thyroid nodules is found to be particularly prominent and hard. E. In the description of thyroid ultrasound, the nodule is hypoechoic with irregular morphology, burr-like changes around it, abundant blood flow around it, gravel-like calcifications, and papillary-like structures within the nodule should be considered as a possible thyroid cancer. 5.Which thyroid nodules should be considered for ultrasound-guided aspiration pathology examination? A.Nodules with the possibility of thyroid cancer as mentioned above. B.The doctor suspects that the thyroid nodule has malignant possibility based on his clinical experience. C. The patient strongly suspects that his thyroid nodule is malignant. The advantages of ultrasound-guided puncture are: A. Tissues most suspected to be cancerous can be taken and sent for pathological examination B. Unnecessary surgery of thyroid nodules in their natural state is avoided. A positive puncture result can indicate a malignant thyroid lesion, while a negative puncture result is 90% benign, and about 10% is when no cancerous tissue is taken. If the nodule is found to be substantial by puncture, or if the histological diagnosis is suspicious for malignant lesions, surgery is required to obtain a pathological diagnosis. 6. Which thyroid nodules require surgery? A Thyroid nodules that have a tendency to become malignant or are suspected to be malignant or have been confirmed to be cancerous. B Thyroid nodules that are benign but have pressure on the surrounding organs. 7.Is there any medicine that can eliminate thyroid nodules? For abnormal thyroid nodules, don’t expect to take any medication to eliminate it, only to have surgery. 8.How can I prevent thyroid nodules in my life? A. Avoid insufficient or excessive iodine intake. B. Avoid tension, anxiety, worry and insomnia. The need for thyroxine in these cases will be greatly increased, and if the load is exceeded, the thyroid gland will be prone to lesions. C. The need for thyroxine also increases during pregnancy.