Thyroid nodules are solid or fluid-filled lumps forming inside the gland. Very common — found by ultrasound in 50% of people over 50.
The Reassuring Truth:
- 95% of nodules are benign — not cancerous.
- Most are very small and cause no symptoms.
- Discovered incidentally during neck ultrasound.
When to Be Concerned:
- Hard nodule growing rapidly.
- Nodule with enlarged neck lymph nodes.
- Persistent hoarseness — may press on the laryngeal nerve.
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing — large nodule pressing.
- History of radiation exposure to head or neck.
Evaluation:
- Thyroid ultrasound: Determines size, shape, and nodule characteristics.
- FNA (Fine Needle Aspiration): If the nodule is suspicious — cell analysis under microscope.
- Thyroid tests: TSH, T4, T3 — to assess function.
At BEIT TARIQ Center, we evaluate thyroid nodules and determine what needs monitoring versus surgical referral.