THYROID GUIDE. WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF NODULES?

Nodules in the thyroid gland are common among adults. But are they all dangerous? How is detected them and in what cases they can become a cause for concern? Tells the doctor-radiologist of the department of radiosurgical treatment with open radionuclides of A. Tsyb Medical Radiological Research Centre – the branch of the FSBI “National Medical Research Radiological Centre” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Candidate of Medical Sciences Ekaterina Borodavina.

– Are all thyroid nodules dangerous?

– According to various authors, about 95% of detected nodules are benign in nature and only 5% are represented by malignant tumors. Neither the number of nodules in the gland, nor their size, nor the level of hormones in the blood do not determine their nature.

– What is the main method of detecting nodules?

– On palpation of the thyroid gland, nodules are detected in only a small percentage of the population. The main method of diagnosing nodules is ultrasound.

– Who is more likely to have nodules?

– Thyroid nodules are rare in children, and their appearance should be a reason for mandatory follow-up examinations. In women, nodules in the thyroid gland are much more common than in men. Despite this, it is in men and children that the probability of malignant nature is higher.

– Which nodes are worth puncturing?

– If the patient has no complaints and the nodular formation is small in size (up to 1 cm), then this node is subject to dynamic observation. Ultrasound of the thyroid gland in this case is enough to perform once a year. If the node begins to grow and becomes larger than 1 centimeter, fine-needle aspiration biopsy is required.

What studies help in making a diagnosis?

First of all, if nodules are detected by ultrasound, a blood test for TTG (thyroid hormone) is carried out. If it deviates from the established norm, it is recommended to study the level of free fractions of hormones T3 and T4 to clarify the diagnosis. Patients with elevated levels of hormones in the blood, in addition, thyroid scintigraphy and determination of the titer of antibodies to the TTG receptor. At the same time, it is required to undergo a blood test to determine the level of calcitonin. This study allows you to detect in a person one of the most aggressive and unfavorable tumors of the thyroid gland medullary cancer. Other oncomarkers in the presence of nodular formations of the thyroid gland do not make sense to pass.