Thyroid nodules are a common problem in endocrinology. One of the main reasons for its occurrence is the lack of iodine in the body. Such a pathology arises as a result of a violation of the endocrine system and looks like a pathological change affecting the thyroid gland. If treatment is not done in a timely manner, then nodular formations can provoke the occurrence of many diseases.
The ailment is quite difficult, with the formation of one or more nodes that have different sizes and symptoms, as well as differing malignant and benign course. Such formations may consist of a capsule or liquid. Mostly the nodular formation of the right lobe of the thyroid gland, in the same way as the left, is benign, but it is necessary to undergo diagnosis and subsequent treatment. If the disease is not cured in a timely manner, then it can provoke the occurrence of various pathologies.
The most common nodular formation of the right lobe of the thyroid gland, and with age, the risk of its occurrence increases. In men, this pathology is much more common than in women.
Thyroid structure
One of the most important organs of the endocrine system is the thyroid gland. It produces hormones containing iodine. In shape, it looks like a butterfly and is located on the neck.
The thyroid gland consists of an isthmus, left and right lobes. Some people have an extra lobe pointing up from the isthmus. Epithelial cells are made up of follicles that produce hormones. The follicle is a small bubble with fluid inside. With various violations in the work of the gland, the follicle overflows with liquid, and as a result of this, nodular formations arise.
What is a node and how is it formed
Nodular thyroid formations are seals that differ in structure from healthy tissue. Everyone, knowing the normal parameters, can conduct a self-examination to identify neoplasms. A healthy thyroid gland is characterized in that:
- has the same surface without protrusions and depressions;
- the same density;
- when pressed, pain does not occur;
- both lobes are symmetrical.
To determine the cause of the pathology, you need to contact an endocrinologist. By the number of nodules of the thyroid gland can be:
- solitary, that is, single;
- multiple
- conglomerate, i.e. multiple nodes, interconnected.
Single ones look like a small protruding ball and can be in any of the lobes or on the isthmus. Multiple formations can affect any area of the thyroid gland. Over time, they grow and form a nodular goiter. It can increase gradually over the years or appear rapidly, in just a few weeks.
Types of thyroid nodules
There are several different types of nodular neoplasms that differ in structure and quantity. Depending on the structural features, nodular formations of the thyroid gland are:
- colloidal;
- cyst;
- adenoma;
- malignant neoplasm.
Colloidal nodes contain many hormones and can be single or multiple. They grow very slowly and are often diagnosed by accident, as they do not provoke any symptoms. Sometimes there may be a degeneration of a benign tumor into a malignant neoplasm.
A cyst looks like a capsule filled with liquid. Often it affects women and is characterized by very slow growth. As they grow, their shell becomes thinner and palpation can feel the oscillation of the fluid inside.
The adenoma looks like a ball located in a fibrous capsule. It is characterized by gradual growth and does not affect adjacent organs. Basically, it occurs in people after 40 years, and most often in women.
Malignant neoplasms are predominantly one node containing cancer cells. This neoplasm has no clear boundaries, a shell, and it is characterized by rapid growth. To the touch it is quite dense, but does not provoke painful sensations.
Causes of pathology
It is not completely known what exactly provokes the nodular formation of the thyroid lobe, however, there are certain predisposing factors for the occurrence of such a pathology. These factors include:
- hypothermia;
- frequent stress;
- bad ecology;
- iodine deficiency;
- inflammation
- bad heredity.
When hypothermia occurs, spasm of the vessels occurs, which provokes a violation of certain parts of the thyroid gland, as a result of which the immunity decreases sharply, which leads to the problem of cell division. The reason for the uncontrolled release of hormones is poor ecology. This can cause a tumor to form.
With iodine deficiency , the thyroid gland begins to increase. Nodular formation occurs due to the fact that the gland is trying to get the missing amount of iodine from the blood. Swelling of the thyroid gland can occur during inflammatory processes, resulting in the formation of nodes similar to a tumor. Also, pathology can occur due to heredity.
At risk are:
- women;
- people over 55 years old;
- patients with other diseases of the endocrine system;
- having a heredity to thyroid disease.
People of these categories should definitely monitor their condition carefully and periodically perform palpation of the thyroid gland. In the presence of soreness, seals or an increase in size, you must definitely consult a doctor and undergo a diagnosis to determine the pathology.
The main symptoms of nodular formation
Signs of nodular formations of the thyroid gland largely depend on the size and amount of hormones produced. The absence of symptoms with small sizes indicates that the affected organ does not produce hormones. That is why education at the initial stage can only be determined by ultrasound diagnostics.
Caution should be given to such signs of nodular formation of the left lobe of the thyroid gland, such as:
- voice changes;
- difficulties with swallowing;
- dyspnea;
- fever;
- tachycardia;
- digestive upset;
- muscle weakness.
This disease is characterized by the fact that it can affect children and adults. The danger is that there is a direct effect on the physical and mental indicators of the development of the child. The process of therapy can be quite complicated.
With a sternal arrangement of the patient’s goiter, shortness of breath and a feeling of constriction in the throat may disturb. In the event of the presence of one or more symptoms of the disease, you should immediately consult a doctor for examination and subsequent treatment. It is much easier to get rid of the pathology at the initial stage than to deal with complications.
Diagnosing thyroid nodules
If the thyroid gland is affected, nodular formation in the initial stages can be detected only after a comprehensive examination. If signs of the disease appear, you should definitely consult a doctor. For those at risk, it is important to undergo periodic preventive examinations to help identify the disease in the initial stages.
Initially, the endocrinologist conducts a visual examination, and if nodular formations of both thyroid lobes were detected, then their size, soreness, density, mobility, as well as the condition of the skin in the neoplasm are assessed. After this, the patient must undergo a laboratory test to determine the amount of hormones in the blood. However, it is worth remembering that many factors influence this indicator, in particular, such as:
- intense physical activity;
- pregnancy;
- taking certain medications;
- low protein nutrition.
In addition, scintigraphy is also carried out, which implies the introduction of agents containing radioactive iodine. However, it should be borne in mind that this diagnostic method is contraindicated during pregnancy. An ultrasound scan of nodules of the thyroid gland is mandatory, which allows you to determine the number and exact location of tumors, as well as assess the condition of the organ itself.
When conducting ultrasound diagnostics, the size of the thyroid gland is estimated. Standards for each age category are subject to change. However, if the deviations are insignificant, then this means that there may not be a pathology. Deviation from the norm upward may indicate diseases such as:
- nodular goiter;
- cyst;
- inflammatory processes;
- malignant and benign tumors.
Deciphering the results of ultrasound diagnostics should only be done by a doctor who can determine diffuse changes in the thyroid gland. Nodular formation in this case can be benign or malignant.
A biopsy is performed to determine if the cancer is benign or benign. It implies the collection of tissue cells for examination under a microscope. The whole procedure is monitored using ultrasound diagnostics. According to the results of a biopsy, the doctor selects treatment.
Patients with neoplasms having a diameter of 5-10 mm and indirect signs that the tumor is malignant are referred for a biopsy. The main signs of a malignant tumor are considered such as:
- dense consistency of the knot;
- rapid growth;
- spread to neighboring organs;
- voice disturbance;
- the presence of ultrasonic signs.
In case of suspicion of a malignant tumor, an oncologist should carry out the diagnosis and treatment. To assess the size of the thyroid gland, a tomography is performed, which allows you to clearly determine its contour, structure and visualize the lymph nodes.
Treatment of nodules
If the patient is diagnosed with nodular formation of the left thyroid lobe, the treatment should be comprehensive, and the method of therapy should be selected depending on the complexity of the course of the disease. Self-treatment is unacceptable, since this can provoke serious consequences and complications, which is why all drugs should be prescribed only by the endocrinologist after the examination.
A benign node is completely safe and often does not do much harm to the body. Treatment in this case is carried out by the use of medications and traditional medicine. A malignant neoplasm necessarily requires surgical intervention, since it grows very quickly, metastases pass to other organs, and this can lead to the death of the patient.
If the node on the thyroid gland turned out to be a colloidal goiter, then treatment is not carried out, and the patient is shown constant monitoring, and if there is a tendency for the growth of the neoplasm, then the doctor selects the method of therapy.
Drug therapy is aimed at suppressing the hormones produced. In the presence of diffuse goiter, medications are used to eliminate iodine deficiency in the body. In this case, doctors often prescribe "Iodomarin", as this is a very good modern drug.
If a patient has malignant nodules of the thyroid gland, the treatment is carried out exclusively by surgery. The operation, depending on the degree of development of the disease, can be carried out in several ways, namely:
- partial resection;
- excision of the affected thyroid lobe;
- complete removal of the thyroid gland.
After surgery, the treatment with radioactive iodine is often additionally performed. This is necessary so that the remains of malignant neoplasms can be completely removed. After the operation, the patient regularly needs to artificially replenish the lack of iodine in the body.
The most gentle method of surgery is laser therapy. The light beam supplied by the laser warms up the tumor and destroys pathogenic cells. Then tissue scarring occurs. Such an operation is carried out only if the size of the neoplasm is not more than 4 cm.
Thyroid nodule prophylaxis
To avoid problems with the thyroid gland, it is necessary to carry out certain preventive measures, namely:
- consume foods that are high in iodine;
- pay enough attention to sleep and rest;
- to live an active lifestyle;
- control hormone levels;
- undergo periodic medical examinations.
It is forbidden to take iodine-containing drugs on your own without a doctor's prescription, as this can trigger serious side effects.
Nutrition and Diet
Treatment of nodular formation of the thyroid gland must necessarily be combined with maintaining a healthy lifestyle and following a special diet. The most important thing is that a sufficient amount of iodine is ingested daily. The daily diet should include:
- seafood;
- sea kale;
- kiwi;
- eggs
- Rye bread.
You can use iodized salt when cooking. It is also important to cleanse the body of toxins, and for this you need to consume cereals, legumes, beets, apples, freshly squeezed juices, drink plenty of water. You also need to limit the consumption of harmful foods, fatty and fried foods, confectionery, preservatives. Following a diet will help saturate the body with beneficial substances and prevent the onset of the disease.
Complications of nodular thyroid formations
Untimely treatment and the lack of disease prevention can provoke the occurrence of some complications. In an advanced state, the nodular formation of the left lobe of the thyroid gland, just like the right one, can be combined into a multinodal goiter.
Over time, a benign neoplasm can turn into a malignant one, and its treatment will require surgical intervention and complex chemotherapy. If treatment is not done in a timely manner, this can lead to the death of the patient. In addition, nodular formations can lead to:
- metabolic disorders in the body;
- difficulty swallowing;
- squeezing nerve endings;
- asphyxiation.
Without the timely provision of medical care, a person is not able to cope with an existing disease on his own, which is why at the first signs of pathology, you must definitely seek help from a doctor.