Methods to distinguish benign from malignant thyroid nodules.
1. Fine needle aspiration biopsy can be performed under the guidance of B-ultrasound if available
For larger nodules, direct needle aspiration cytology is also a cost effective method. Surgery is required if malignancy is suspected.
2. Lymph node metastasis in the neck
If there is a thyroid nodule on one side and the lymph nodes in the neck on the same side are enlarged and hard, cancer should be considered and lymph node metastasis has occurred.
3.Number of thyroid nodules
A single nodule has a much higher chance of becoming cancerous than a multinodular goiter. If there are multiple nodules and they are not large, you can continue to observe them.
4. Growth rate of nodules
However, some patients suddenly find that their thyroid nodules have grown up after coughing or sudden exertion, which is mostly caused by bleeding within the adenoma rather than cancer.
5.Size of the lump
Tumors smaller than 1 cm are currently considered to be under observation unless there are other highly suspicious factors.
6.Thyroid nodules cause significant pressure symptoms
Those with difficulty in breathing or swallowing, or hoarseness should be treated surgically.
7.Texture of the nodule
A nodule that is soft, smooth and can be pushed by hand is mostly benign. A hard, fixed, painless nodule has a high chance of malignancy.
8.B ultrasound examination for calcification
Calcification is often one of the manifestations of many malignant tumors, but in the case of the thyroid, it should be treated specifically. If the calcification is sand-like, less than 1 mm, it is more likely to be cancerous, but if it is a large calcification, it is not necessarily so.
9.Medical history and family
If you have had radiation treatment to the head and neck in the past, you have a higher chance of having malignant lesions in the thyroid gland. If your immediate family has medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine tumors, you also have a higher chance of having malignant tumors in the thyroid gland.
10.There are also some special tests to identify thyroid lumps
Such as nuclear scan of thyroid gland, peroxidase (TPO), calcitonin and other indicators are also useful to identify the benignity and malignancy of the masses.
11. Age and gender
Although the incidence of thyroid nodules is higher in women than men, the incidence of thyroid cancer in men is 2-3 times higher than that in women. under 20 years old and over 60 years old are the groups with high incidence of thyroid cancer.