Diagnosis and treatment of thyroid nodules

Tells Olga Yatsishina,

endocrinologist, PhD

Thyroid nodules are perhaps the most common pathology of the endocrine system today. One of the reasons for the formation of nodes is a deficiency of iodine, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the thyroid gland. Almost the entire territory of Russia, with the exception of Sakhalin, belongs to the iodine-deficient zone. At the same time, thyroid nodules are formed in women about five times more often than in men.

The doctors of the European Medical Center have extensive experience in treating and monitoring patients with thyroid nodules. For the diagnosis of endocrinological diseases, we use the most modern devices, which is important for ultrasound diagnostics, since a lot depends on the quality of the equipment and the experience of the doctor.All specialists of the EMC clinic work in accordance with international standards.
The European Medical Center provides an opportunity to undergo the entire complex of diagnostic measures and thyroid treatment (including surgery).: consultation with an endocrinologist, ultrasound examination (ultrasound), blood test for hormones, if necessary, puncture biopsy of the nodes and examination of the resulting thyroid tissue.

What is thyroid nodule?

Nodular formation of the thyroid gland is a limited change in the structure of the gland tissue, which is detected by palpation or ultrasound. Nodes can be single or multiple. All nodes are divided into benign, colloidal nodes, which never transform into a malignant tumor, and thyroid tumor nodes, which can be either benign (adenomas) or malignant.

Diagnostics

Nodules can form in different parts of the thyroid gland without any symptoms. Unfortunately, today few patients purposefully come to the doctor for thyroid examination, so in most cases nodular formations are diagnosed accidentally - during examination for other diseases.

The main methods of diagnosis of thyroid nodules are:

• Palpation. When palpating the thyroid gland, an endocrinologist can identify the presence of nodules, determine their number and size. It is also important to check the condition of the lymph nodes.

• Ultrasound examination (ultrasound). The most common and most accurate examination of the thyroid gland. Ultrasound can show the presence, location, size, and structural features of the nodule.

• Hormone testing. Thyroid–stimulating hormone (TSH) level analysis is a mandatory stage of examination when a thyroid node is detected. If the TSH level is below normal, then the next step is likely to be a radioisotope examination (scintigraphy) of the thyroid gland.

• A fine needle puncture biopsy is usually prescribed by an endocrinologist if there are signs indicating the presence of malignant cells. Only on the basis of this study can the nature of the nodule be determined: whether it is a colloidal node, an adenoma, or a malignant tumor.