Thyroid adenoma is a benign tumor that forms in the tissues of this organ. Such a neoplasm can be of various sizes and manifest itself in different ways.
Most often we are talking about a toxic adenoma that produces a large amount of hormones in an active state (thyrotoxicosis). If the tumor is inactive, which practically does not manifest itself in any way. But in any case, it is important to timely and correctly diagnose and start treatment.
Causes of occurrence
The reasons for the development of thyroid adenoma can be different: as a rule, the tumor develops in those who are genetically prone to the formation of nodes. However, environmental factors of the patient also play an important role: unhealthy work, smoking, inflammation, stress, autoimmune thyroid diseases in history.
Symptoms
If the neoplasm is small and "non-working", it may not manifest itself in any way. And such a course will continue until the adenoma grows and begins to produce hormones in an uncontrolled amount.
With an increase in the tumor, the following may appear:
- sensation of a foreign body in the throat;
- a constant feeling of pressure in the neck;
- discomfort when wearing ties, shirts with tight collars, scarves;
- a feeling of suffocation;
- changes in the appearance of the neck;
- violations in the process of swallowing.
If we are talking about a toxic adenoma, then its symptoms are somewhat different. In this case, the patient:
- tachycardia is observed;
- body weight decreases;
- hands trembling (tremors from small to large);
- dry skin and a feeling of heat in the body;
- lack of air becomes obvious when breathing;
- various psychoemotional disorders develop;
- stool is disturbed;
- (in a woman) her menstrual cycle becomes irregular.
Diagnosis of adenoma
With the symptoms described above (one or more), it is important to correctly diagnose and prescribe an adequate treatment for the condition. To do this, you should contact an endocrinologist who will conduct an examination, collect anamnesis and, possibly, send the patient to:
- blood test for hormones, tumor markers, antibodies;
- Ultrasound of the thyroid gland with Doppler examination;
- scintigraphy, which allows to separate active nodes from inactive ones;
- node thermometry;
- fine-needle aspiration biopsy, revealing the histology (cytology) of the node;
- MRI, specifying the location and size of the neoplasm.
Thyroid adenoma treatment
Before clarifying the diagnosis, the endocrinologist prescribes symptomatic therapy for the patient. And then he chooses further treatment-and-prophylactic tactics.
Therapeutic methods will depend on:
- the size of the adenoma;
- its location;
- symptoms observed in the applicant;
- his age.
If conservative treatment does not help, they resort to surgical intervention. And when the adenoma is toxic, neck massage and physiotherapy are contraindicated in patients.
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