Thyroid Nodules & Cancer

A thyroid nodule is an irregular growth found at the bottom of the front of your neck. This abnormal growth could be found by your primary care provider or an OB/GYN during a routine check-up. You may also notice this growth yourself by feeling a lump in your neck.

Symptoms

Most thyroid nodules will cause no symptoms, but some will present with:

  • a lump in your neck.
  • difficulty swallowing.
  • pressure in your neck.

A thyroid lump has been found, now what?

Most thyroid nodules do not need treatment as they aren’t cancerous or causing any symptoms, but due to size, appearance, or symptoms, you may need additional evaluation by an Endocrinologist or Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist.

Treatment Options

If you need additional evaluation, your ENT specialist may perform a:

  • Thyroid Function Test: A simple blood test used to determine if your thyroid gland is working.
  • Radiology Exam: This can be an ultrasound, CT scan, or an uptake test to measure how much iodine your thyroid takes.
  • Biopsy: Using a fine needle, your ENT specialist takes tissue samples from your nodule to be examined.

These tests will help determine the type of thyroid nodule you have and guide us in our individualized treatment recommendation.

Non-Cancerous Nodules

Faith Regional offers expert, specialized treatment for thyroid nodules that are benign (non-cancerous). These treatment options include:

  • Hormone Therapy: If your thyroid function test determines your thyroid isn’t producing enough thyroid hormones, they may recommend hormone therapy.
  • Surgery: If your thyroid nodule is too large or your biopsy comes back as suspicious, your ENT specialist may recommend surgery to remove the thyroid nodule.
  • Watch & Wait: Your ENT specialist may recommend no intervention at all. They will continually follow-up with you with evaluations and exams to check on any changes to the nodule.

Cancerous Nodules

If you have a cancerous thyroid nodule, Faith Regional has a full team of cancer experts on your side to provide the highest level of care. The most commonly recommended treatment option for thyroid cancer is surgery. Your ENT specialist will recommend a surgical option best suited for your thyroid nodule. Surgical options may include:

  • Total Thyroidectomy: your surgeon will remove all of your thyroid gland
  • Partial Thyroidectomy: your surgeon will remove part of your thyroid gland

Once all or part of your thyroid gland is removed, you may no longer produce enough thyroid hormone. Therefore, you may have to take medication to replace this hormone.

Support For You

If you are diagnosed with a thyroid nodule, rest assured our ENT surgeons are here and ready to provide safe, compassionate care that meets your unique needs. Talk to your primary care provider to be referred to Dr. Justin Oltman or Dr. Eric Rohe or call our clinic at (402) 844-8275 to schedule an appointment.