The main role of the small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck is to produce and release hormones that regulate your body’s metabolic rate. Thyroid gland hormones also affect your mood, breathing, heart rate, and brain development. Sometimes, the thyroid gland may develop nodules. As you age, you often become at higher risk of thyroid nodules and may require Newport Beach thyroid nodule biopsy to ascertain whether they are malignant or non-malignant. A thyroid nodule biopsy is a test involving the extraction of a small tissue sample from the nodules in your thyroid gland. The sample extract is then subjected to a lab analysis to determine if your thyroid nodules are cancerous or noncancerous.
Fortunately, clinical studies show there is more than a 95% chance that your thyroid nodules may be benign. However, although thyroid nodules may be noncancerous, they may also indicate or cause thyroid disease. And if your doctor finds out you have thyroid cancer in its early stage, begin treatment immediately to improve your chance of full recovery.
Subsequently, below are the conditions that may cause your cancerous or noncancerous thyroid nodules.
1. Abnormal growth of thyroid tissues
If your thyroid tissues experience abnormal growth, the condition is often medically referred to as a thyroid adenoma. Clinical studies have not yet established why your thyroid tissues may grow abnormally.
Usually, the abnormal growth of healthy thyroid tissues does not mean you have cancer. But you should be concerned if the nodules become big and painful.
Abnormal growth of thyroid tissues may cause an overactive thyroid. An overactive thyroid produces excessive hormones that can speed up your metabolism.
2. Thyroid cyst
Your thyroid gland may also have cysts or cavities of fluids and solid substances. Even though a thyroid cyst may be noncancerous, its non-liquid content may contain cancerous cells indian news
3. Chronic inflammation
Chronic thyroid gland inflammation may be due to different conditions, including thyroid disorders and diseases like Hashimoto’s disease and multinodular goiter.
Also called chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune condition that involves your immune system attacking and damaging healthy, normal thyroid cells.
On the other hand, multinodular goiter is a medical term meaning an enlarged thyroid. Multinodular goiter is when you have an enlarged thyroid gland with several nodules or lumps.
A possible cause of a multinodular goiter is a deficiency of iron. Therefore, if you want to prevent multinodular goiter, ensure your diet is rich in iodine. Foods richly packed with iodine include iodized table salts, shrimp, dairy milk, eggs, beef liver, and chicken.
4. Thyroid cancer
Cancer of the thyroid starts in the butterfly-shaped gland situated at the base of your neck. If your thyroid nodules are bigger and hard and cause pain and discomfort, that should be a cause of concern as you may be dealing with cancer.
You may be more susceptible to cancer because of genetics or exposure to radiation, especially due to a nuclear explosion or medical treatment.
Without going for early diagnosis and treatment of your thyroid nodules, you risk various complications, including thyroid cancer and breathing and swallowing difficulty.
Contact Dr. Sean P. Nikravan, MD, FACE, today to schedule an appointment with a specialist in thyroid nodule biopsies and learn more about thyroid nodules.
