1.What kind of masses on the neck should be suspected as thyroid tumor?
Usually, it is a lump in the front of the neck, which usually moves up and down with swallowing, and some female patients have a “throat knot”.
2. During the physical examination in hospital, the doctor said that a thyroid nodule was found. Is this thyroid nodule a thyroid tumor?
Usually, thyroid nodules are occupational lesions of the thyroid gland, not necessarily thyroid tumors. Most thyroid nodules are nodular goiter, which is a benign lesion and not a tumor in the strict sense; thyroid tumors include benign and malignant tumors, and malignant thyroid tumors, i.e. thyroid cancer, account for about 5%-15% of the thyroid nodules used.
3.Thyroid tumor, thyroid adenoma and thyroid nodule, are they the same thing?
Simply put, thyroid tumors include benign and malignant tumors, thyroid adenoma is a benign tumor of the thyroid gland, and thyroid nodules is a generic term for occupying lesions of the thyroid gland, mainly including nodular goiter, benign and malignant tumors of the thyroid gland, etc.
4. Why do I get thyroid adenoma?
The incidence of thyroid nodules is about 19%-65%, but the incidence of thyroid adenoma is not high, and the exact cause is not clear.
5.Are thyroid adenomas usually benign or malignant? Can they become malignant? What are the signs of malignancy?
In benign cases, the malignancy rate is about 10%. If malignant, it may grow rapidly within a short period of time and cause symptoms such as compression of the trachea or esophagus, or even hoarseness due to nerve compression. Other manifestations include poor mobility and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck on physical examination.
6.What are the symptoms of thyroid adenoma? Is it always accompanied by hyperthyroidism?
When the mass is small, there may be no specific symptoms, but when it is large, symptoms of pressure may appear, such as difficulty in swallowing and deviation of the trachea, or even shortness of breath. About 20% of them are combined with hyperthyroidism.
7. If there are no symptoms, can I leave it alone? Who needs special attention if they are detected with thyroid adenoma?
Most thyroid nodules are asymptomatic, and if your doctor tells you that you do not need surgery, you will usually need to be reviewed regularly, usually in about 6 months. If there is rapid growth, pressure and hyperthyroidism during the review process, you should seek medical attention.
8.Why do some patients with thyroid adenoma have normal thyroid function test results?
Patients with thyroid tumor can have hyperthyroidism combined with normal thyroid function.
9.Why do all patients with thyroid disease need ultrasound examination? How does ultrasonography help to confirm the diagnosis of thyroid adenoma?
Ultrasonography is currently the first choice for thyroid disease and is the main basis for determining benignity and malignancy and the need for surgical treatment.
10. Do patients with thyroid adenoma need iodine uptake (isotope scan)? What is the significance of this test?
A nuclear scan is useful for identifying high-functioning adenomas.
11. Do all patients with thyroid adenoma need to have a puncture biopsy? What is the significance of this test?
Fine needle aspiration is important for preoperative assessment of the malignancy of thyroid nodules.