MANAGING THYROID NODULES AND YOUR HEALTH

Thyroid disorders are common — about 12% of U.S. adults will have one in their lifetime. Thyroid problems can zap your zest for hobbies and complicate daily bodily functions.

“ The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the throat,” explained Dr. Helmi Khadra, endocrine and oncological surgeon at Houston Methodist Hospital. “It makes a hormone you need for energy, metabolism and temperature regulation.”

Hypothyroidism And Hyperthyroidism

Diagnosing thyroid problems involves checking your hormone levels. Low levels indicate hypothyroidism or when your thyroid produces too little of the hormone. You may feel forgetful and depressed and have some weight gain. High hormone levels indicate hyperthyroidism, where your thyroid produces too much hormone. You may feel irritable and nervous and have unexplained weight loss.

Thyroid Nodules

Lumps on the thyroid — benign or cancerous nodules — are sometimes found by chance. “Many patients see us for nodules a doctor notices during a routine medical exam or on imaging for an unrelated health concern,” said Dr. Laura Minhui Kim, a head and neck surgical oncologist at Houston Methodist Hospital. The good news? Less than 10% of thyroid problems require surgery.

Managing Benign Thyroid Nodules

About 95% of nodules are benign. “But that doesn’t mean they don’t cause problems when they grow,” cautioned Khadra. Some of these include trouble breathing or swallowing, with frequent throat-clearing and a hoarse, raspy voice.

“Based on your symptoms and test results, we’ll decide how to handle nodules. If a biopsy shows that a small nodule is benign, your doctor may recommend watching it for changes over time,” said Kim.

R adiofrequency ablation can treat larger benign nodules. “We place a probe in the nodule, generating heat that shrinks it,” said Khadra. “Patients often go back to work the next day.”

Surgery for Thyroid Cancer

Only about 5% of thyroid nodules are cancerous. In those cases, we recommend removing all or part of the gland to prevent spreading. There are two options for surgery:

■ Total thyroidectomy: Removes the entire thyroid gland.

■ Partial thyroidectomy: Removes part of the thyroid gland. For total thyroidectomy, most patients stay just one night in the hospital. “We’ll see them again within two weeks after surgery,” said Khadra, “and an endocrinologist will help them maintain a healthy thyroid hormone level.”

“If we only remove part of the gland, we need to see the patient regularly to check for new nodules on the remaining side,” explained Dr. Kim.

NOT FEELING LIKE YOURSELF?

Thyroid symptoms can take a toll on your quality of life. If something doesn’t feel right, talk with a doctor. Getting regular physical exams can help identify thyroid problems early when they’re easier to treat. Discussing your symptoms is the first step to feeling like yourself again, faster. •