Thyroid nodules are very common - especially in adults. They constitute the seal or swelling in tissues of the thyroid gland and may be solid, or filled with liquid. Most sites are benign, only a small part of them turns out to be a malignant tumor. Nevertheless, if you notice any seal in the thyroid gland, contact your doctor immediately and inspect - if it's still cancer, the earlier the diagnosis, the greater will be the likelihood of successful treatment.

Thyroid nodules - a sealing tissue that usually appear, in general, the healthy thyroid. Often these abnormal growths located at the edge of the thyroid, so they can be detected by touch. If the nodes are very large and / or were in very bad person, you can even see them - they look like small blisters under the skin on the neck. Key facts about thyroid nodules:

• One of 12-15 young women develop thyroid nodules. In men, they occur less frequently - on average, one out of 40;
• More than 95% of thyroid nodules are benign;
• Some densification in the thyroid gland The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones   are actually cysts - is the liquid inside them, rather than thyroid tissue;
• Approximately half of the people, by the time they reach 50 years of age, thyroid nodules formed;
• The probability of occurrence of thyroid nodules increases with age. In 50% of people 50 years of age have at least one node of the thyroid gland; for people aged 60 and 70 years, the figure is 60% and 70%, respectively.

Three questions about the nodes of the thyroid gland

In a survey of patients with thyroid nodules doctors seek to answer three questions:

• Is the unit in the thyroid gland malignancy?
• Dawit whether the node to other structures, located in the neck?
• Whether the node generates too much thyroid hormone?

In most cases, the answer to all three questions is negative. As a rule, the size of a small or medium units, and they consist of healthy thyroid tissue. Sometimes the nodes are a sign that the thyroid produces too few hormones.

In patients with diffusely enlarged thyroid gland (goiter) may appear at first signs typical of conventional units - usually a bulge under the skin of the neck. However, crop - is another disease, though it is not malignant.

To determine goiter cancerous or not, requires needle aspiration biopsy - tissue sampling unit for further analysis.

If the study will give positive answers to the above three questions, as a rule, appointed by surgery.

Symptoms

Most thyroid nodules do not cause symptoms. Typically, they are found by accident - the patient can find a seal or some friends says that a man on the neck appeared unusual bloating. In addition, nodes are often found in the course of a regular medical examination. Finally, a node in the thyroid gland can be detected in the computed tomography or magnetic resonance tomography, assigned to the diagnosis of various diseases.

In some cases, the nodes in the thyroid gland and cause pain - very rarely - difficulty swallowing. So what happens when a node becomes so large that it prevents food to pass through the esophagus, located behind the trachea and thyroid. Regardless of size, less than 1% of thyroid nodules are malignant. If the nodes are benign and do not cause any symptoms, the patient does not need a special treatment.

Larger units are beginning to put pressure on other structures in the neck, resulting in the following symptoms may occur:

• Heavy breathing;
• Difficulty swallowing;
• Goiter;
• The emergence of hoarseness or other voice changes;
• A sore throat.

If the nodes of the thyroid glands produce excessive amounts of thyroid hormone, the patient may appear symptoms of hyperthyroidism Hyperthyroidism: symptoms - how to determine what happens to you? , including:

• Increased heart rate;
• Sweating, clammy sweat from the skin;
• Increased appetite;
• Anxiety, irritability;
• Hot flashes;
• Losing weight while maintaining a normal diet and exercise.

Sometimes the thyroid nodules appear in patients with Hashimoto's disease. These people may experience the following symptoms:

• Dry skin;
• Swelling of the face;
• Fatigue;
• Hair loss;
• Intolerance to cold;
• Weight gain in the absence of changes in diet.

Since thyroid nodules rarely have any symptoms, they are usually detected during a medical examination assigned for another reason. However, regardless of the cause nodes any unpleasant symptoms or not, if they are detected, the patient needs a thorough medical examination in order to understand the nature of the sites. This is usually used fine needle aspiration biopsy, ultrasound and thyroid blood test thyroid-stimulating hormone. As a rule, it turns out that the node is benign, and it for years - perhaps for life - not to be reminded of the patient himself.

Causes

Ascertain the cause the appearance of thyroid nodules are usually not possible, but we know that it can be caused by exposure to radiation Radiation and its biological effect: gently infected!   in childhood.

Between 1920 and 1950, ionizing radiation is widely used to treat certain infections such as recurrent tonsillitis, and skin diseases Skin diseases - what to do when violated the basic functions of the skin Such as severe acne. Scientists believe that those who in childhood and adolescence has passed such treatment, increasing the probability of thyroid nodules (including - malignant) in the future. It is also a very high risk for those who lived (especially - for a long time) near the location where the testing of nuclear weapons, and there were an accident at nuclear power plants. However, despite the increase in risk, it must be remembered that in most cases, thyroid nodules are not dangerous to human life, and even if they are malignant, the likelihood of successful treatment and remission is very high.

Ultrasound diagnosis (ultrasound scan or ultrasound scanning) - a procedure that involves the exposure of the body portion of high-frequency sound waves to produce a subsequent image of the internal organs. Ultrasound diagnosis, unlike X-rays, does not involve ionizing radiation. Since the image obtained by ultrasound, is displayed in real time, such diagnostics to determine the structure and motion of internal organs and blood flowing in the blood vessels.

Ultrasonic diagnosis of thyroid to determine the location and status of the thyroid gland - one of nine endocrine glands which produce necessary for the normal operation of the body's hormone systems.

Ultrasonic diagnosis of thyroid cancer is usually used to define tumors in the thyroid gland, or to determine abnormalities in the thyroid gland. Since this type of diagnosis provides images in real time, an ultrasound scan is often used in combination with fine-needle aspiration biopsy for collecting tissue samples from abnormal formation accurately. Furthermore, this procedure increases the accuracy of the catheter or drainage device for draining the outer cyst of thyroid The thyroid gland cyst: presentation and survey .

Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment - computers, electronic equipment, the screen, which displays the image sensor and the sensor to scan the body and blood vessels. The sensor is a small device that resembles a microphone, which is connected to the scanner cord - it sends out high frequency sound waves reflected by analyzing them from body tissues. The operating principle of the device is similar to the principle of operation of sonar.

Image obtained ultrasonic transducer is transmitted to the display, which looks exactly like a computer display or a television screen. The image indicators based on amplitude, frequency, the return time audio signal.

The operating principle of ultrasound diagnosis

The basis of ultrasound diagnosis - the same principle that works sonar: the sound wave reflected from an object, such as the measurement of the reflected waves to determine how far away the object is and what its size, shape and density. In medicine, ultrasound is used to determine changes in the internal organs, tissues and blood vessels, as well as to detect anomalous formations - such as tumors.

The sensor is used in ultrasound sends sound waves - high-frequency signals are not discernible to the human ear - and writes the data on the reflected waves. These indicators are measured and analyzed instantaneously computer, which in turn outputs a complete image on the monitor in real time.

How do I

Ultrasound diagnosis is carried out in a horizontal position, face up, under the neck cushion is enclosed - is the human condition as much as possible makes it easier to scan the region of the thyroid gland. Compliance with the most comfortable posture is especially important for a small child.

In the area of ​​skin which will interact with the ultrasound transducer is applied a transparent water-based gel that provides maximum contact with the skin surface of the device. Sensor firmly pressed against the skin, a doctor interested in studying the site.

After completion of the procedure may need some time to study obtained by the ultrasonic diagnostic images, although in most cases the data analysis is performed immediately. The entire procedure takes about thirty minutes.

Ultrasound diagnosis - fast, easy and completely painless procedure. Moving the sensor in most cases does not cause any discomfort during the examination (if the skin is very sensitive or inflamed, you can pochuvstovovat pressure or minor pain when in contact with the sensor body).

Analyze obtained by ultrasound diagnosis image of the thyroid gland will radiologist or physician who has the necessary skills to analyze the results of these scans. Final conclusions about the state of the thyroid gland and need treatment makes the physician.

Benefits and Risks

Benefits

• Ultrasound diagnosis - non-invasive and painless procedure.
• This form of diagnosis is considered the most common and less expensive than other types of scanning.
• Ultrasound diagnosis does not involve ionizing radiation.
• Unlike conventional x-rays, ultrasound scanning makes it possible to get a clear picture of soft tissues.
• Ultrasonography provides images in real time, which makes this procedure a convenient complement invasive techniques - such as aspiration biopsy.

Potential risks

• The standard procedure for ultrasound diagnosis is not associated with any risks or adverse effects to human health.

In ultrasound diagnostics have some pretty significant limitations. Firstly, by ultrasound scanning indistinguishable from the innocuous components thyroid malignancy in tissues of the thyroid gland The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones   - For this is required in most cases fine needle aspiration biopsy and analysis of tissue samples under a microscope. In addition, ultrasound diagnostics can not determine the state of the thyroid gland - an increased or reduced activity of the gland. For the diagnosis of thyroid function requires special blood tests Blood tests: a mirror of health .