What should I do about a thyroid cyst?

Written by Luo Juan
Endocrinology
Updated on September 16, 2024
00:00
00:00

What should I do if I have a thyroid cyst? First, we need to understand what a thyroid cyst is. A thyroid cyst refers to a fluid-filled sac found in the thyroid gland. Generally, patients with thyroid cysts do not show any clinical symptoms in the early stages. Some discover a lump accidentally, usually without systemic symptoms. Individual patients may exhibit symptoms such as hyperthyroidism, and some with a longer disease course can also experience hypothyroidism, such as fatigue, poor appetite, constipation, and edema. Therefore, when diagnosed with a thyroid cyst, it is crucial to determine whether the cyst is benign or malignant and whether it affects thyroid function. If it does impact function, symptomatic treatment is necessary. Of course, most thyroid cysts are benign and can be monitored over time.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Xie
Endocrinology
45sec home-news-image

What should be paid attention to regarding thyroid cysts?

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.

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 Chen Xie
Endocrinology
1min 4sec home-news-image

Will thyroid cysts become malignant?

The formation mechanism of thyroid cysts may be due to the expansive growth of nodules, which compresses the venous vessels causing circulatory disturbances. This leads to tissue ischemia and atrophic degeneration, resulting in congestion and edema. Fluid accumulates to form cysts. Cysts formed through regressive changes in nodules can involve the entire nodule turning cystic or only partial cystic changes, thus forming masses that are partly solid and partly cystic. In thyroid cancer, cysts can also form due to necrosis, hemorrhage, and liquefaction. Therefore, thyroid cysts can also be cancerous. For this reason, regular observation and follow-up of thyroid cysts are necessary. If there is any indication of malignant transformation in a thyroid cyst, timely treatment is required.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
47sec home-news-image

Do thyroid cysts require a special diet?

Thyroid cysts refer to fluid-containing sacs that appear in the thyroid gland. Generally, these cysts do not become malignant, and they do not present any clinical symptoms, nor do they cause hyperthyroidism. If the cyst is particularly large and compresses the local thyroid tissue, it generally does not lead to hypothyroidism. Therefore, there is generally no need for a special diet for thyroid cysts. However, some scholars believe that the formation of thyroid cysts is related to iodine deficiency, or they can also occur in areas with high iodine content. Hence, it is advisable to avoid consuming foods with particularly high iodine content.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Li
Endocrinology
49sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of thyroid cysts?

Thyroid cysts generally refer to a cystic mass found in the thyroid, typically containing a mixture of fluid or semi-solid fluid. The mass usually has clear boundaries and is painless. It can move up and down with swallowing, which distinguishes it from some subcutaneous nodules. Thyroid cysts generally do not show obvious symptoms or clinical signs and are mostly discovered when looking in the mirror or during a physical examination. However, larger thyroid cysts may cause compression symptoms, such as pressing backward against the trachea or esophagus, leading to symptoms like breathlessness and discomfort swallowing. A small portion may also exhibit signs of thyroid dysfunction, such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, although this is relatively rare in clinical settings.