What is a thyroid nodule? A thyroid nodule is not a disease, but a medical description of a lump found in the thyroid gland. There are benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Benign nodules include nodular goiter and thyroid adenoma, while malignant thyroid nodules are mainly thyroid cancer. Are thyroid nodules common? Thyroid nodules are very common. According to domestic and international statistics, thyroid nodules are found in 1 out of every 12-15 young women. The incidence increases with age, and half of the population has thyroid nodules after the age of 50. Do thyroid nodules have a high rate of malignancy? No. More than 90% of thyroid nodules are benign, but the incidence of thyroid cancer has been increasing year by year in recent years. How can thyroid nodules be diagnosed clearly? Nearly 90% of nodules can be diagnosed by history, physical examination, thyroid ultrasound, thyroid function tests and thyroid puncture. Which thyroid nodules require surgery? Surgery is required for nodules that are malignant or highly suspicious of malignancy (also known as thyroid cancer), and for benign tumors that are larger than 4 cm, cause tracheal compression or cause hyperthyroidism (also known as hyperthyroidism). Who can choose minimally invasive thyroid surgery? Minimally invasive surgery is an option for patients with unilateral or bilateral benign tumors, nodular goiter, hyperthyroidism up to 3rd degree, and early thyroid cancer. The specific modalities are fully endoscopic surgery, endoscopic-assisted surgery and small incision thyroid surgery.