The thyroid gland is a small organ located on the neck of a person. It is characterized by its small size and weighs only a few grams, but due to the influence of various adverse factors, these indicators can increase. The thyroid gland produces three hormones that affect the functioning of many organs and systems. It is especially important that it functions normally in children, as this affects their growth and development.
In case of any disorders, a follicular tumor of the thyroid gland occurs. What it is? Let's try to figure it out.
Causes of the disease
The pathology of the thyroid gland is formed under the influence of many negative factors that provoke the appearance of various nodes and formations. Diseases of this organ are quite common. In general, formations are benign, and only in 5% of cases they are malignant.
Pathology of the thyroid gland occurs for the following reasons:
- lack of iodine in the body or, conversely, its excess amount;
- hereditary predisposition;
- hormonal imbalance due to age-related changes, childbirth, taking medications with hormones;
- the use of carcinogenic food or with harmful additives with a lack of fruits and vegetables;
- abuse of bad habits;
- adverse environmental effects;
- effects on the body of toxic substances;
- endocrine system disorders;
- radiation exposure;
- taking medications.
There are other reasons that contribute to the development of diseases of this organ. It can be frequent stresses, decreased immunity, lack of physical activity.
Types of thyroid tumors
Malignant formation of this organ can have several types:
- Papillary tumor is quite common and is characterized by slow growth. After a while, it grows into an organ capsule, affecting the blood vessels and lymph nodes, through which it begins to metastasize.
- A follicular (B-cell) thyroid tumor is also quite common. This type of cancer metastasizes through the blood vessels, and the lymph nodes remain intact. Localization of metastases occurs in the liver, lungs and skeletal system.
- Medullary (C-cell) carcinoma is inherited. It grows at a moderate pace and metastasizes through the lymph nodes.
Thyroid follicular tumor: what is it?
The formation of the follicular type may be an adenoma (benign tumor) or an adenocarcinoma (malignant tumor). They are difficult to distinguish from each other, so during the examination of the patient, the doctor makes a preliminary diagnosis without specifying the nature of this disease. With a benign and malignant formation, a capsule appears, which the adenoma cells are not able to break. But an adenocarcinoma breaks it and grows into the surrounding tissue.
A follicular thyroid tumor (adenoma) is found mainly in women. Men from this pathology suffer 3 times less.
Since this body has two lobes - the right and left, according to statistics, only one of them is most often affected, and usually it is the right side. Very dangerous is the isthmus adenoma, which often goes into a malignant state.
A follicular tumor of the right lobe of the thyroid gland (adenoma), if it is large, causes aesthetic inconvenience in the neck. In addition, it becomes difficult to swallow.
Clinical features
Thyroid follicular tumor - what is it and what are its clinical features? This formation is characterized by a round or oval shape with perfectly defined borders. At its core, this is a large number of follicles enclosed in a capsule of connective tissue. Such a formation is not able to germinate in other vessels and tissues.
The main danger of this pathology is that an adenoma can turn into an adenocarcinoma, that is, become a malignant neoplasm. Therefore, if there is a suspicion of a benign thyroid follicular tumor , then you should constantly be observed by an endocrinologist who, if necessary, will select the correct treatment.
Symptoms of a follicular type of tumor
If the thyroid gland is small, then it does not bother a person in any way. With a large volume, it is palpated. The large size of the tumor begins to exert pressure on the surrounding tissue, which is why the patient's voice changes, becoming hoarse and hoarse. A person swallows and breathes with difficulty, and a sensation of a foreign object arises in the throat. With compression of the nerves, a pain syndrome appears. If the blood vessels of the organ are subjected to pressure, then there is a violation of blood circulation.
Adenocarcinoma may be accompanied by the occurrence of metastases. In addition, the following symptoms indicate the presence of a malignant form:
- fatigue;
- drowsiness;
- irritability;
- heart palpitations;
- lethargy;
- dyspnea;
- sharp weight loss.
The patient may also respond poorly to heat. The most severe symptoms are arrhythmia and myocardial dystrophy.
Diagnostics
If the pathological organ is large, then you can feel it yourself. A small thyroid gland is detected by ultrasound. To determine the type and nature of the disease, a fine needle biopsy is prescribed.
Treatment methods
If a follicular tumor of the thyroid gland has been identified , treatment is prescribed, focusing on its stage and localization. In some cases, partial excision of the cells of formation and its fraction is performed, in others, this organ is completely removed.
The classic treatment of the follicular thyroid gland includes:
- complete or partial removal of the organ;
- the use of radioactive iodine to prevent the occurrence of metastases and tumor recurrence;
- hormonal treatment;
- postoperative observation of the patient.
Surgery
If the patient was diagnosed with a follicular thyroid tumor, surgery will be the only way to relieve him of this pathology.
When only one lobe of the organ is affected, hemithyroidectomy is used, that is, it is removed. For its implementation, a strict testimony obtained by a cytological biopsy is necessary. After this operation, there is a chance of developing hypothyroidism, which requires hormone replacement therapy.
Thyroidectomy is used extremely rarely when the organ is completely affected. After it, relapse of the tumor practically does not occur. In addition, iodotherapy with life-long hormone replacement treatment is prescribed.
Thyroid resection is also performed quite rarely. With relapse of the tumor in the event of repeated surgery, difficulties arise due to the formation of scars.
Radioactive Iodine Treatment
The thyroid gland can only be treated with radioactive iodine 131, only it is toxic to such pathogenic cells. But such a drug is not indicated in all cases, but only when:
- the tumor grows very much;
- metastases occur with penetration into the lymph nodes;
- education is growing fast enough;
- the patient is diagnosed with vascular invasion.
Such treatment is mandatory for the elderly. After surgery, therapy with this drug should be carried out during the first month.
Hormone therapy
If the thyroid gland has been completely or partially removed, the patient is prescribed lifelong replacement therapy using a hormonal complex. The follicular tumor responds to the thyroid-stimulating hormone produced by the pituitary gland, therefore, the patient is usually prescribed an exogenous hormone, the intake of which reduces the risk of re-growth of pathogenic cells.
Forecast
If a thyroid follicular tumor is diagnosed, the prognosis for its treatment will not be very favorable. If the volume of education does not exceed one centimeter, the prognosis will be successful in half the cases. In the absence of metastases in 80% of cases, about twenty years of life are guaranteed after therapeutic treatment.
If the tumor is quite small, a favorable prognosis occurs in 95% of reported cases. If its size is very large, a complete cure is possible in 50% of patients.
Output
So, we talked about a disease such as a follicular tumor of the thyroid gland. What is it, you now know. This is a very serious organ damage, which can be either benign or malignant. Pathology is cured only in an operational way. With timely treatment, the prognosis is quite favorable.