What should be paid attention to regarding thyroid cysts?

Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
Updated on September 06, 2024
00:00
00:00

Thyroid cysts generally do not show obvious symptoms. When a cyst significantly enlarges or internal bleeding occurs, compressive symptoms or pain may appear. Thyroid cysts can lead to hyperthyroidism, and if persistent, may eventually cause hypothyroidism. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly monitor thyroid function to understand the status of thyroid activity. The treatment of thyroid cysts primarily involves distinguishing whether they are malignant. For thyroid cysts suspected to be malignant, surgical treatment is required. Generally, thyroid cysts are benign and only require regular observation and follow-up.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Li
Endocrinology
43sec home-news-image

Differences between Thyroid Cysts and Nodules

Thyroid cysts and thyroid nodules are different. Generally, thyroid nodules are classified into solid nodules, mixed nodules, and cystic nodules. Most thyroid cysts refer to cystic nodules of the thyroid, meaning that the nodules primarily contain fluid components. Usually, these thyroid cysts are nonfunctional. That is, they contain some fluid, which could be exudate or bloody fluid, but these fluids generally do not cause hormonal level changes. Nodules, on the other hand, often involve functional changes; they can be nodules that produce thyroid hormones or could be cancerous nodules. Therefore, in these respects, thyroid cysts and nodules are different.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Li
Endocrinology
1min 1sec home-news-image

What causes thyroid cysts?

Thyroid cysts currently have no definitive cause identified. Previously, most believed they were possibly related to iodine deficiency, as such deficiency leads to thyroid hyperplasia and an increase in thyroid cysts. However, it was later discovered that in some high-iodine coastal areas, the incidence of thyroid cysts remains high. This suggests that variations in iodine levels, such as switches from low to high iodine or from high to low iodine, can also lead to the occurrence of thyroid cysts. Additionally, it is currently believed that there might be some connection with radiation and the use of mobile phones and computers, but there is no definitive conclusion. Regardless, once thyroid cysts occur, it is important on one hand to eliminate the possibility of malignant features, ruling out thyroid cancer, and on the other hand to ensure thorough thyroid function tests to understand if there are any abnormalities in function and whether treatment is needed.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
41sec home-news-image

What should I do if my thyroid cyst is painful?

Thyroid cysts generally do not have any clinical symptoms, but if untreated and continuously growing, there is a risk of hemorrhage within the cyst. Therefore, when a thyroid cyst becomes painful, it may be due to excessive internal pressure and bleeding inside the cyst, causing pain. At this point, it is necessary to go to the hospital emergency department for a comprehensive thyroid ultrasound to observe the size of the cyst, and to provide emergency surgical treatment or local puncture to aspirate the blood and relieve pain.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Luo Juan
Endocrinology
57sec home-news-image

Can thyroid cysts become cancerous?

Thyroid cysts can potentially become cancerous. Initially, thyroid cysts may arise from various thyroid diseases such as nodular goiter, Hashimoto's disease, thyroid adenoma, and thyroid follicular cancer, which form through degeneration, liquefaction, and hemorrhage. They are one of the common diseases of the thyroid. In the population, at least 4% of people can feel thyroid nodules larger than one centimeter. Among these nodules, about 5% to 20% are cystic. Statistics show that even benign lesions causing cysts have a 4%-5% chance of becoming cancerous when the diameter of the individual exceeds 4 centimeters. Therefore, thyroid cysts can potentially become cancerous.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
1min 1sec home-news-image

Can thyroid cysts eat kelp?

It is recommended to eat in moderation. Thyroid cysts are one of the common benign occupational lesions of the thyroid gland. The growth of cysts is very slow, and generally, there are no uncomfortable clinical symptoms. Occasionally, when there is bleeding within the cyst, there can be local pain and a rapid increase in the size of the mass. The cause of thyroid cysts is not yet very clear, and it may be related to iodine metabolism. Some scholars believe it is related to iodine deficiency, while others think it is related to excessive iodine intake. Seaweed contains a very high amount of iodine. It is advisable to eat seaweed appropriately, but it is not recommended to eat seaweed daily. Eating seaweed daily can lead to an excessive intake of iodine, which might further develop the thyroid cyst or cause multiple thyroid cysts to appear.