THYROID CYST
There is one more rather common abnormality of the thyroid nodule tissue, which is thyroid cysts. Usually thyroid cysts are benign and may be left untreated, but still require close monitoring. Thyroid cysts treatment does not always mean surgery to remove them; as in some cases, a course of medications and routine monitoring may be enough. Why do cysts occur in thyroid tissue, as well as how shall be performed the follow-up monitoring procedures? Let us clarify these and some other questions together.
If a nodule in the thyroid gland tissue is filled with fluid, it is called a cyst. Such fluid filled sacks appear in regions inside the thyroid gland. They may be small (less than 1 cm) or quite large and sometimes appear very suddenly. Thyroid nodules may be entirely cystic, in which case there are no solid components detectable within the fluid. Cystic nodules may start growing spontaneously due to hemorrhage or bleeding within a smaller pre-existing nodule.
THYROID CYSTS SYMPTOMS
Cysts range in sizes from small to large and can grow quite rapidly causing symptoms such as:
- Neck pain
- Trouble swallowing
- Compression of the vocal chords
THYROID CYSTS TREATMENT OPTIONS
Most common options to treat cystic lumps in the thyroid gland include:
- Thyroid hormone suppression therapy:This form of therapy involves treating the nodule with synthetic forms of thyroxine (thyroid hormone).
- Ethanol Sclerotherapy:A procedure that involves injecting ethanol into the cystic cavity.
DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR DETECTING THYROID CYSTS
Diagnosing thyroid nodules requires:
- Fine needle aspiration (FNA):This is a biopsy used to distinguish whether a nodule is benign or malignant. A thin needle is inserted into the nodule and removes a sample tissue for testing.
- Ultrasonography:This imaging test uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images to determine the shape and structure of the nodules.