The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. This gland makes hormones that help control how your body uses energy. There are several thyroid issues that can safely diagnosed and less invasively treated by an interventional radiologist.
What is a thyroid nodule?
Growths on the thyroid gland–called nodules–can grow and become symptomatic. Most of these growths are benign and do not cause problems. But in some cases, they can result in symptoms such as painful breathing, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or obvious lumps or bumps in the neck.
What is a thyroid nodule?
Growths on the thyroid gland–called nodules–can grow and become symptomatic. Most of these growths are benign and do not cause problems. But in some cases, they can result in symptoms such as painful breathing, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or obvious lumps or bumps in the neck.
What are my thyroid nodule treatment options?
If a thyroid nodule isn’t causing symptoms, your doctor will typically recommend monitoring the nodule with a physical exam, ultrasound and thyroid function tests. If the nodule grows larger, or is causing symptoms, a thyroid needle biopsy or fine needle aspiration is recommended.
Thyroid nodule biopsy
Using ultrasound to guide the needle, a radiologist can extract a precise biopsy from a thyroid nodule. The sample is sent to a laboratory to determine if the nodule is cancerous or contains abnormal levels of thyroid hormones. Because thyroid nodule ablation is not appropriate for initial thyroid cancer treatment, we require two negative thyroid nodule biopsies – allowing us to be confident the nodule is benign.
If treatment for the nodule is required, there are several treatment options available to patients:
Hormone Therapy
If the thyroid gland isn’t capable of making a sufficient amount of thyroid hormone, a synthetic hormone is usually given in pill form.
Antithyroid Medication
If the thyroid is producing too much hormone, medication can be used to block the production of thyroid hormone.
Surgery
If a nodule is large and causing symptoms, two surgical options are available. A partial thyroidectomy or total thyroidectomy, depending on your unique condition. However, hyperthyroidism may develop as a result of either procedure, requiring life-long hormone medication. In addition, surgery will leave a neck scar.
Minimally Invasive Options
North Star Vascular & Interventional physicians offer minimally invasive, outpatient alternatives to surgical treatments such as a partial or total thyroidectomy.