There are many causes of thyroid nodules, which can be divided into benign nodules and malignant nodules. Benign nodules include nodular goiter, thyroid cyst, thyroid adenoma, and inflammatory thyroid nodules; malignant nodules refer to thyroid cancer; the diagnosis needs to be confirmed with the patient’s symptoms, signs, ultrasound, and thyroid function 7, and if necessary, a puncture biopsy to clarify the diagnosis.
Nodular goiter is a common cause of thyroid nodules, most common in middle-aged women, due to a relative deficiency of thyroid hormones in the body and increased TSH secretion by the pituitary gland, resulting in recurrent or sustained thyroid hyperplasia, causing uneven enlargement and nodule-like changes in the thyroid gland.
Thyroid cysts are also a common cause. They contain a mixture of blood or gelatinous fluid, have an envelope, are well-defined, are tough, and are usually painless, and can be defined mostly by ultrasound. In addition, inflammatory nodules are mostly seen in subacute thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s disease, etc.
The cause of malignant thyroid cancer is still unclear, and may be caused by stress, depression, medication, genetic factors, etc. Therefore, it is important to have regular checkups and ultrasound examinations of the thyroid gland, and early detection and treatment will lead to a better prognosis.