In recent years, more and more people have been diagnosed with thyroid diseases during physical examinations, including thyroid nodules, cysts, and occasionally hearing words related to cancer, which makes people feel anxious and uneasy! Is it really serious? Let's learn about thyroid cysts together!
What is thyroid cyst?
Thyroid cyst refers to a fluid filled sac found in the thyroid gland, which is round, smooth, generally painless or slightly painful, and moves up and down with swallowing. Most of them are solitary nodules, rarely seen in multiple nodules. When the pressure inside the thyroid gland is not high, the texture is relatively soft. If there is a lot of fluid, the texture will be more tough.
Thyroid cysts are mostly benign, but some cysts may also have malignant cells. According to the nature of the contents of the cyst, it can be divided into collagen cysts, serous cysts, hemorrhagic cysts, necrotic cysts, and mixed cysts.
What are the symptoms of thyroid cyst?
Thyroid cysts usually have no symptoms unless the cyst is large or there is bleeding inside, which may cause some compression symptoms such as difficulty breathing, pain, swallowing difficulties, hoarseness, etc.
Common causes
1. Bad habits: Long term smoking, excessive drinking, staying up late, long-term overeating or eating too much oily and stimulating food such as fried foods and barbecue can increase the risk of thyroid cysts.
2. Abnormal emotions: Long term presence of tension, anxiety, depression, irritability and other emotions can cause certain stimulation to the cerebral cortex, leading to a decrease in thyroid hormone secretion and triggering thyroid cysts.
3. Iodine deficiency: In some special periods, such as adolescence, pregnancy, menopause, etc., if the patient's iodine intake is insufficient and the body lacks iodine, it can lead to excessive synthesis of thyroid stimulating hormone, causing excessive proliferation of thyroid cells and triggering thyroid cysts.
4. Environmental factors: such as drinking water or food being contaminated by wastewater or waste. Pollutant substances entering the human body can also cause the occurrence of some diseases, leading to thyroid cysts.
5. Autoimmunity: When the body is infected with bacteria, viruses, or other factors that cause a decrease in immunity, it can also lead to thyroid cysts.
6. Congenital factors: Familial congenital deficiency of thyroid hormone synthase can also cause thyroid cysts.
Is the risk of thyroid cyst cancer higher compared to thyroid nodules?
Compared with solid nodules of the same size, the risk of thyroid cyst cancer is much lower.
Research has shown that the components contained in thyroid cysts vary greatly, and the risk of cancer also varies greatly. The more fluid they contain and the less solid tissue they have, the lower the risk of cancer.
Generally, thyroid cysts are mainly composed of liquid and jelly like components, but it cannot be ruled out that a few malignant nodules may occur. In other words, when solid tissue is detected, further treatment is necessary. If the solid tissue contained in the cystic nodule reaches more than 50%, its risk of cancer is similar to that of solid nodules of the same size, but there is no need to worry too much and actively cooperate with correct treatment.
When should thyroid cysts be further treated?
Thyroid cysts tend to be benign, therefore, we do not recommend surgical treatment for most patients with thyroid cysts. Regular observation or microwave ablation treatment can be performed to remove the cyst fluid and solve the problem of cyst compression. If it is a cystic solid nodule, the solid part should be ablated after the cyst fluid aspiration is completed.
When there have been cases of thyroid cancer in the family or when the individual has had occupational exposure to radiation, it is necessary to further diagnose the type of cyst through methods such as biopsy.
In recent years, minimally invasive ablation technology for thyroid nodules, thyroid cysts, and hyperthyroidism has become an effective method for minimally invasive treatment of thyroid diseases. It has the advantages of scar free neck, no need for long-term medication, minimal trauma, fast recovery, and reliable results. It has become an advanced technology widely recognized by patients with thyroid diseases.
Daily prevention of thyroid cysts
1. Smoking and alcohol prohibition;
2. Have a light diet and avoid greasy, spicy, and sweet foods;
3. Reasonably consume iodine containing foods, such as seafood like seaweed and seaweed;
4. Eat more foods that are conducive to digestion;
5. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables;
6. Regular diet, normal daily routine, and exercise.
In short, both thyroid nodules and thyroid cysts are mostly benign, so there is no need to worry too much. If the lesion is small, it can be temporarily left untreated and regularly monitored, but if the lesion is too large and causes compression symptoms, it is best to treat it immediately.