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Suggest Treatment For Thyroid Nodule
Question: I am 35 year old woman.l am having a thyroid nodule of 4 cm size.in left lobe.Is the surgery is advisable for removing it?
Brief Answer:
Unless the nodule is purely cystic, it needs surgery.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
4 cm is a big size for a thyroid nodule. Surgery is the preferrable mode of treatment of a thyroid nodule especially due to the fear of it turning cancerous (malignancy), unless the nodule is purely cystic (fluid filled). Please get an ultrasound of the nodule to check its consistency. There seems to be no correlation between size of thyroid nodules and risk of malignancy. But the conditions to consider are:
1. A history suggestive of a high risk for thyroid cancer. Risk factors include radiation exposure during childhood, rapid growth of a nodule, hoarseness, vocal cord paralysis, dysphagia, or a family history of thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome. If you have a high-risk history, surgery and biopsy are mandatory.
2.If you are without a high-risk history, then the next point to consider is whether abnormal cervical lymph nodes are present. If present, biopsy of the lymph nodes should be done first before surgery.
3. The characteristic of the nodules is important. Nodules can be as entirely solid, mixed cystic-solid, spongiform, or purely cystic. Purely cystic nodules do not require biopsy or surgery but the others require surgery.
Hope that clarifies your queries.
If you found my answer helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
Unless the nodule is purely cystic, it needs surgery.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
4 cm is a big size for a thyroid nodule. Surgery is the preferrable mode of treatment of a thyroid nodule especially due to the fear of it turning cancerous (malignancy), unless the nodule is purely cystic (fluid filled). Please get an ultrasound of the nodule to check its consistency. There seems to be no correlation between size of thyroid nodules and risk of malignancy. But the conditions to consider are:
1. A history suggestive of a high risk for thyroid cancer. Risk factors include radiation exposure during childhood, rapid growth of a nodule, hoarseness, vocal cord paralysis, dysphagia, or a family history of thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome. If you have a high-risk history, surgery and biopsy are mandatory.
2.If you are without a high-risk history, then the next point to consider is whether abnormal cervical lymph nodes are present. If present, biopsy of the lymph nodes should be done first before surgery.
3. The characteristic of the nodules is important. Nodules can be as entirely solid, mixed cystic-solid, spongiform, or purely cystic. Purely cystic nodules do not require biopsy or surgery but the others require surgery.
Hope that clarifies your queries.
If you found my answer helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Other than surgery what can be done to control weight gain and irregular periods
Brief Answer:
Cause of the nodule needs to be ascertained. Iodine or thyroxine supplement
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
The cause of weight gain or irregular periods seems to be due to lack of thyroid hormones (thyroxine). In such a condition thyroxine supplementation would be required. Additional iodine supplementation may also be required as iodine deficiency could be the cause of thyroid hormone deficiency as well as a cystic thyroid nodule.
Hope that clarifies your queries.
If you found my answer helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
Cause of the nodule needs to be ascertained. Iodine or thyroxine supplement
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.
The cause of weight gain or irregular periods seems to be due to lack of thyroid hormones (thyroxine). In such a condition thyroxine supplementation would be required. Additional iodine supplementation may also be required as iodine deficiency could be the cause of thyroid hormone deficiency as well as a cystic thyroid nodule.
Hope that clarifies your queries.
If you found my answer helpful, please close the thread with a positive review and a 5 star rating.
Regards
Dr. Kunal Saha
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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