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What is a Thyroid Lesion?

By Sarah Sullins
Updated: Mar 03, 2024

A thyroid lesion or nodule occurs when tissue in and around the thyroid grows abnormally. Thyroid lesions appear as small lumps in the neck and can sometimes be seen upon physical examination. These cysts are typically filled with fluid. Sometimes the nodules will have only fluid in them, while other times the fluid will be mixed with cells from the thyroid.

Many thyroid lesions go unnoticed by the person who has them. This is because the lesions often come with no symptoms and can be located deep inside of the thyroid. If a lesion becomes too big, though, it may affect the area around it in the neck and throat, causing a person to become short of breath or have a hard time swallowing food. The lesion also can produce more hormones than it is supposed to produce, leaving a person to experience episodes of fatigue, rapid weight loss and other symptoms.

Only a small percentage of these lesions are cancerous. A biopsy is usually done after a doctor does a physical exam and takes a history. The biopsy will allow the doctor to see if the cells in the lesion are cancerous. An ultrasound often is used to help the doctor guide the needle used in the biopsy into the correct position. This allows the doctor to see where the cells are so he can extract more than just cystic fluid from the thyroid nodule.

If the patient has cancer of the thyroid, surgery will most likely be needed. The size of the lesion also could lead a patient's doctor to recommend surgery to remove the lump, even if it is not cancerous. Other tests, such as blood tests to determine the hormone levels in the thyroid, may be needed to determine how the severity of the lesion.

Doctors also may use differential diagnosis to help determine if a lesion is present. When a doctor does this, he is eliminating different types of ailments, one at a time, so he can be sure of his diagnosis. In diagnosing a thyroid lesion, a doctor might eliminate the possibility of the patient having an adenoma, nodular hyperplasia, thyroiditis, a carcinoma, or lymphoma. Each of these illnesses may exhibit the same symptoms as that of a thyroid lesion. By taking the time to individually rule out each of these conditions, the doctor can better diagnose and treat the patient.

The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By anon251615 — On Mar 01, 2012

My lesion was found accidentally through a cat/ct scan at the ER. Also try to perform self examinations once a month. U may never believe it can happen to you, and I'm just 18!

By edsel59 — On Jun 06, 2011

I think my concern would be for the lesions that do not produce symptoms. Even though the article says that only a small percentage of lesions are thyroid cancer, it is also a fact that early detection is key to the most successful cancer treatments. So how, if there are no symptoms, would a person know if they had cancer in time to treat it?

By Anna32 — On Jun 03, 2011

@Bailey1989 - The article does say that many people who have thyroid lesions often do not have symptoms. So I would infer that if the patient were actually suffering from the problem, then the blood and hormone tests would show some abnormality which would then lead to a diagnosis.

Obviously, if there is substantial thyroid swelling or other definitive symptoms of a thyroid abnormality, a good doctor is going to dig deeper despite what numbers come back on a blood test.

By Bailey1989 — On Jun 02, 2011

I never knew that you could get lesions on thyroid glands, but then it does make sense. What I find fascinating is where the article explains the thyroid symptoms of this condition and how similar they are to the symptoms of an overactive thyroid.

It makes me wonder: do doctors test for this condition when a patient complains of these symptoms or do they simply do a blood test and write off thyroid problems if the test comes back normal? If so, how long do people generally suffer from this condition before obtaining a proper diagnosis?

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