Thyroid adenomas are common benign lumps in the thyroid gland, with symptoms indicating an underactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism. Treatment options include surgery, therapy, or medication, with radioactive iodine and levothyroxine as potential treatments. Most noncancerous nodules do not require treatment.
A thyroid adenoma is a benign lump of cells in the thyroid gland which may also be referred to as a thyroid nodule. These tumors are common, often producing few or no symptoms. The symptoms you experience may indicate an underactive thyroid. Signs of thyroid cancer only occur in a few cases where tumors are present. Treatments for a thyroid adenoma vary and may include surgery, therapy, or medication.
An estimated ten percent of the population has a thyroid nodule, with more women developing it than men. Aging is thought to increase the chances of developing this type of cancer. Some tend to be classified as fluid-filled cysts, while others are a collection of smaller thyroid gland cells.
People who have a thyroid adenoma may not experience any clinical symptoms unless the tumor is cancerous, very large, or causing hyperthyroidism. Symptoms that indicate large tumors include difficulty breathing and swallowing, voice changes, and neck pain. If hyperthyroidism is present, other symptoms that may occur include clammy skin, weight loss, strong pulse, and reddening of the skin. A thyroid adenoma in people who have Hashimoto’s disease can cause facial swelling, weight gain, and hair loss.
Men and women who find a lump in their neck are advised to contact a doctor. Doctors typically find thyroid nodules during routine physical exams or imaging tests for other health issues. If a thyroid adenoma is found, doctors may conduct several tests including thyroid scan and ultrasound, biopsy, and TSH test.
Features showing an increased likelihood of cancerous tumors include a hard lump, exposure of the head or neck to radiation, hoarse speech, and a family history of thyroid cancer. In these cases, doctors may decide to surgically remove a portion of the thyroid gland. Surgery is also used to treat people with a thyroid adenoma that causes hyperthyroidism or problems swallowing and breathing. Treatment for noncancerous thyroid nodules also has some complications of hyperthyroidism from accidental damage to the vocal cord nerves during surgery.
Some doctors also use radioactive iodine to treat patients who have an overactive thyroid. Iodine helps reduce the size of these tumors, but in rare cases it can cause inflammation of the thyroid gland. However, medical experts do not recommend radioactive iodine in treating pregnant women for thyroid cancers. Special cases of noncancerous nodules may include treatment with a drug called levothyroxine to suppress the production of the T4 thyroid hormone. Laser therapy and alcohol injections are other treatments for a thyroid adenoma. Many noncancerous nodules do not require treatment and are not life-threatening.
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