How to deal with calcification of thyroid nodules?

Written by Li Jin Quan

General Surgery

Updated on September 08, 2024

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Thyroid nodules calcification can be divided into coarse calcification and microcalcification. Coarse calcification is generally benign, and benign conditions do not require special treatment. When a large nodule causes compression symptoms and affects our appearance, surgical removal can be considered. Microcalcification is mostly likely to become malignant, therefore, cytological biopsy of the thyroid should be performed. If it is benign, we can continue to observe it. If it is malignant, we can treat it with surgery, comprehensive therapy, or radiotherapy.

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Written by Li Jin Quan

General Surgery

53sec

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Is thyroid nodule calcification scary?

Thyroid nodule calcification is a common disease of the human thyroid gland. When seeing thyroid nodule calcification, we should not be afraid. Thyroid nodule calcification refers to the dense proliferation of thyroid cells, which, during an ultrasound examination, appears as strong spots, specks, or rings on the thyroid. Thyroid nodule calcification can be divided into coarse calcification and microcalcification. Generally, coarse calcification is benign, and we can continue to observe it. If it is microcalcification, we can conduct a pathological examination. If it is malignant, surgical treatment can be performed; if it is benign, we can continue to observe. Therefore, thyroid nodule calcification is not something to be afraid of.

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Written by Hu Jian Zhuo

Nephrology and Endocrinology

46sec

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How to treat thyroid nodules?

Clinically, if a thyroid nodule is confirmed to be a benign tumor, generally speaking, if thyroid function is normal and the nodule is not large, urgent treatment is not necessary, and regular follow-up is sufficient. If the thyroid nodule significantly enlarges, causing compression of the trachea or nerves, surgery should be considered. Furthermore, for ectopic growth of thyroid tissue behind the sternum, surgical removal is also considered necessary. Another scenario that requires special mention is if a thyroid nodule grows rapidly in a short period and ultrasound suggests calcification or bleeding within the cyst, thyroid cancer should be suspected. In this case, it's advisable to have the nodule surgically removed.

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Written by Hu Jian Zhuo

Nephrology and Endocrinology

1min 38sec

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Probability of thyroid nodules becoming cancerous

The malignant manifestation of thyroid nodules is thyroid cancer. Thus, thyroid nodules are divided into two major categories: benign and malignant. Benign nodules generally make up the vast majority, with malignancies accounting for less than 5%. Malignant thyroid nodules are cancerous. Some benign thyroid nodules may also become malignant over time. Generally, small nodules do not show obvious clinical symptoms during the cancerous transformation, but their nature changes. When a nodule compresses surrounding tissues and causes certain symptoms, such as hoarseness, tracheal compression, and difficulty swallowing, it often indicates that the tumor is in the middle or late stage. Overall, the chances of benign nodules becoming cancerous are very small. The malignancy rate of benign nodular goiter is about 5%, and the possibility of adenomas turning malignant is around 10%. As the diameter increases, the possibility of adenomas becoming malignant gradually increases. There are several high-risk factors for the malignant transformation of thyroid nodules: for instance, having a history of radiation exposure to the head and neck area during childhood or adolescence, patients who are younger than 14 or older than 70; the rate of malignant transformation of thyroid nodules significantly increases; and the rate of malignant transformation in male nodules is significantly higher than in females. Also, patients whose nodules significantly increase in size in a short period during regular check-ups are also considered high-risk for malignancy.

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Written by Lin Xiang Dong

Endocrinology

43sec

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Where to do acupuncture for thyroid nodules?

Thyroid nodules do not require acupuncture treatment. The vast majority of thyroid nodules are benign, with only a small portion, about 5%, being malignant. We generally determine the treatment approach based on whether the nodule is benign or malignant. For benign nodules, we typically follow up with observation, while malignant nodules require surgical treatment and oral medication, or Iodine-131 radiotherapy. The primary evaluation for distinguishing between benign and malignant nodules relies on the results of color Doppler ultrasound and the pathology results from thyroid fine-needle aspiration.

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Written by Hu Jian Zhuo

Nephrology and Endocrinology

38sec

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What is a thyroid nodule?

The thyroid is an endocrine gland located in the neck of the human body. If some abnormal nodules appear in it, they are referred to as thyroid nodules. Based on histological classification, they can be divided into follicular type, papillary type, and mixed type. A common characteristic of these types is that they generally appear as solitary nodules with a relatively complete capsule; the tumor cells differ from the surrounding thyroid tissue; and the cellular structure inside the tumor is relatively consistent. Generally speaking, middle-aged women are the demographic most prone to developing thyroid nodules.