What Causes A Nodule In The Thyroid Gland?

Posted on Thu, 19 Jan 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 19 Jan 2017 Answered on

Thu, 16 Feb 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : my wife had a chest x ray about 10 days ago.....the Dr. saw something on it so she did a cat scan the other day....now the Dr. called and ordered another cat scan for Monday...there is a mass in her thyroid gland...what could this mean...???

thanks, XXXXXXX XXXX
YYYY@YYYY

Answered by Dr. Mirjeta Guni (35 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
About thyroid nodules;

Detailed Answer:
Hello qnd thank you for asking!

I have gone carefully through your concern.

From your description, I can understand that the CT scan has revealed a nodule in the thyroid gland.
The thyroid nodules are evaluated further with scintiscan that uses radioactive iodine or technetium and classifies the nodules in ''hot'' or ''cold'' ones.

The cold nodules has higher probability of malignancy and in these cases a fine needle biopsy is suggested.

Hot nodules has a low risk of malignancy and no biopsy is performed.

A blood test will inform us further regarding the thyroid function.

Hope the information will help.

It'll be a pleasure to answer any further questions.

Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee