Summary
Thyroid nodules are abnormal growths within the thyroid gland. They are present in approximately 50% of the general population but only palpable in 5–10% of the population. They are more common in women, especially in iodine-deficient regions, and their incidence increases with age. Thyroid nodules are the clinical manifestation of various underlying thyroid diseases. The majority of them are benign (∼ 95%), with colloid cysts, follicular adenomas, and Hashimoto thyroiditis being the most common causes. Approximately 5% of thyroid nodules are malignant, with papillary carcinoma being the most common form of malignant disease. A thyroid incidentaloma is a nodule that is discovered during imaging for an unrelated cause and should be evaluated in the same way as other nodules. The initial evaluation of all thyroid nodules includes a TSH assay and thyroid ultrasound. Sonographic signs of thyroid cancer should be further evaluated with fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Identification of a follicular neoplasm on FNAC necessitates further diagnostic evaluation with either molecular testing or surgical excision and histopathology because cytology cannot reliably distinguish between a follicular adenoma and a follicular carcinoma. A radioiodine uptake scan (thyroid scintigraphy) is used to evaluate nodules in patients with low TSH levels. Based on their iodine uptake on radioiodine scans, thyroid nodules can be categorized as autonomous/hot (increased uptake) or nonfunctional/cold (decreased uptake). The most common hot nodules are toxic adenomas and dominant nodules of toxic multinodular goiters. With a 5–15% risk of malignancy, cold nodules are clinically significant. Treatment depends on the underlying etiology and includes, e.g., surgery (thyroidectomy) for malignant and autonomous nodules, aspiration for thyroid cysts, and observation for small, benign nodules.
Epidemiology
- Sex: ♀ > ♂ (4:1)
- Incidence: increases with age [1]
- Geographic distribution: most common in inland regions without iodine fortification programs, where iodine content in food and water is low
References:[2]
Epidemiological data refers to the US, unless otherwise specified.
Etiology
Benign thyroid nodules (∼ 95% of cases)
-
Thyroid adenomas
- Follicular adenoma (most common)
- Hürthle cell adenoma
- Toxic adenoma
- Papillary adenoma (least common)
- Thyroid cysts
- Dominant nodules of multinodular goiters
- Hashimoto thyroiditis
Malignant thyroid nodules (∼ 5% of cases)
-
Types
- Thyroid carcinoma
- Thyroid lymphoma
- Metastatic cancer from breast/renal carcinoma (rare)
-
Red flags for thyroid cancer [3][4][5]
- Patient characteristics
- Male sex
- Age: < 14 years or > 70 years [3]
- History of radiation to the head or neck
-
Family history of:
- MEN2 syndrome
- Differentiated thyroid cancer (i.e., papillary, follicular, or medullary thyroid cancer)
- Gardner syndrome
- Symptoms
- Palpatory findings
- Firm or hard nodule
- Fixed nodule
- Cervical lymphadenopathy
- Patient characteristics
In addition to red flags for thyroid cancer, a solid nodule on thyroid ultrasound or a cold nodule on thyroid scintigraphy should raise suspicion for thyroid cancer.
Diagnostics
Approach [3][6][7]
- All thyroid nodules (including thyroid incidentalomas) should be evaluated for malignancy. [8]
- Initial tests in all patients: TSH levels and thyroid ultrasound [9]
-
Subsequent tests
- Thyroid scintigraphy for patients with low TSH
- Cytology if ultrasound examination shows indications for FNAC in thyroid nodules
-
Additional tests
- Diagnostic workup of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism (e.g., fT4, total T3, thyroid antibodies)
- Thyroid cancer tumor markers (e.g., serum calcitonin for suspected medullary carcinoma) [3]
Initial evaluation [3][6][9]
-
Serum TSH: may be normal, elevated, or low
- Elevated TSH: associated with a higher risk of malignancy in thyroid nodules
- Low TSH: indication for thyroid scintigraphy
-
Thyroid ultrasound:
- Indicated in patients with palpable nodules or if there is clinical suspicion of malignancy
- Assess each nodule individually for risk features.
| Sonographic evaluation of thyroid nodules [6] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | Risk pattern | Ultrasound findings |
| Sonographic signs of thyroid malignancy | High risk |
|
| Intermediate risk |
| |
| Sonographic signs of benign thyroid nodules | Low risk |
|
| Very low risk |
| |
| Benign |
| |
Thyroid ultrasound is not a screening test for the general population. It is indicated as initial test for patients with palpable thyroid nodules or clinical suspicion for thyroid malignancy. [3]
Solid, hypoechoic nodules with irregular margins, microcalcifications, taller-than-wide shape, extrathyroidal growth, and/or cervical lymphadenopathy should raise suspicion for malignancy and require further evaluation with FNAC.
Subsequent evaluation
Thyroid scintigraphy [3][10]
- Indication: thyroid nodule(s) in a patient with low TSH
- Contraindications: pregnant and breastfeeding women
-
Findings and interpretation
- Cold nodule (hypofunctioning nodule): Evaluate for indications for FNAC of thyroid nodules with ultrasound.
-
Hot nodule (hyperfunctioning nodule): rarely malignant, FNAC not recommended [11]
- Solitary hot nodule: toxic adenoma
- Multiple hot nodules: toxic multinodular goiter [12]
Malignancy is rare in hyperfunctioning (hot) nodules. [11]
Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) [3][6]
-
Indications for FNAC of thyroid nodules
- Solid hypoechoic nodules ≥ 1 cm with/without additional sonographic signs of thyroid cancer
-
Consider for solid hypoechoic nodules < 1 cm if any of the following are present:
- Extrathyroidal growth
- Cervical lymphadenopathy
- Symptoms suggestive of distant metastases
- Patient preference for FNAC over observation
- Partly cystic, isoechoic, and hyperechoic nodules ≥ 1.5 cm (low-risk pattern)
- Consider in spongiform or partly cystic nodule ≥ 2 cm (very low-risk pattern).
-
Procedure
- Thyroid cells are obtained using a fine (e.g., 25-gauge) needle, and then observed under a microscope. [3]
- Multiple nodules may require FNAC depending on their sonographic appearance.
- Findings: categorized according to the Bethesda system for thyroid cytopathology
If thyroid scintigraphy is performed, sonographic features of thyroid nodules should be used to determine which cold nodules require FNAC. Cold nodules with a benign appearance on thyroid ultrasound do not routinely require FNAC.
| Bethesda system for thyroid cytopathology [13] | |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic category | Management [6] |
| I: Nondiagnostic or unsatisfactory |
|
| II: Benign |
|
| III: Atypia or follicular lesion of undetermined significance |
|
| IV: Follicular neoplasm or suspicious for follicular neoplasm |
|
| V: Suspicious for malignancy |
|
| VI: Malignant | |
Follicular adenoma
Epidemiology
- Follicular adenoma is the most common type of thyroid adenoma. [9]
- 10–15% of follicular neoplasms are malignant.
Clinical features [9]
- Often presents as a slow-growing solitary nodule
- Patients are typically euthyroid.
- In rare cases, patients can manifest with clinical features of hyperthyroidism (∼ 1% of follicular adenomas develop into toxic adenomas). [14]
Diagnostics [6]
Follicular adenoma is a histopathological diagnosis. Cytology alone cannot distinguish between adenoma and carcinoma. For the initial workup, see “Diagnostic approach to thyroid nodules”.
- Thyroid function tests: TSH is typically normal.
- Thyroid ultrasound: may show sonographic signs of malignancy or appear benign
-
FNAC
- Follicular neoplasm or follicular lesion of undetermined significance
- Cannot distinguish between follicular adenoma and carcinoma
-
Confirmatory test
- Surgical excision (e.g., hemithyroidectomy) with histologic analysis [7][9]
- Findings: normal follicular structure with no tumor invasion into the surrounding tissues (e.g., capsule, blood vessels).
Treatment [9]
- Thyroid surgery is always indicated, both for definitive diagnosis and treatment.
- Initial surgical excision shows no evidence of cancer: no further treatment required
- If follicular cancer is identified on histopathology: completion thyroidectomy and adjuvant treatment of thyroid cancer as needed
Toxic adenoma
Epidemiology
- Third most common cause of hyperthyroidism
- Sex: ♀ > ♂ [15]
- Age: more common in individuals 30–50 years of age
Pathophysiology
- Gain-of-function mutations of TSH receptor gene; in a single precursor cell → autonomous functioning of the thyroid follicular cells of a single nodule → focal hyperplasia of thyroid follicular cells → toxic adenoma
- The autonomous thyroid nodule overproduces thyroid hormones → hyperthyroidism → decrease in pituitary TSH secretion → suppression of hormone production in the rest of the gland
Clinical features
- Palpable, usually painless nodule in otherwise normal gland
- Symptoms of thyrotoxicosis
Diagnostics [16]
For the initial workup, see “Diagnostic approach to thyroid nodules.”
- Thyroid function tests: ↑ T3 and ↓ TSH
- Thyroid ultrasound: sonographic signs of a benign thyroid nodule; in some cases, increased perfusion
-
Thyroid scintigraphy
- Solitary, hot nodule
- Suppression of rest of the gland
- FNAC: Indicated not as a confirmatory test for toxic adenoma but to identify malignancy in suspicious nodules (see “Indications for FNAC of thyroid nodules”)
Treatment [10]
-
Initial management: treatment of hyperthyroidism
- Beta blockers for symptom control
- Antithyroid drugs to achieve euthyroidism
-
Definitive treatment options [9][17]
- Hemithyroidectomy or isthmusectomy for a solitary toxic adenoma
- Radioactive iodine ablation (RAIA) [16]
- Less invasive therapy (e.g., ethanol ablation, radiofrequency ablation, laser ablation) may be considered in patients who are neither candidates for surgery nor RAIA. [16][18]
Toxic multinodular goiter
Epidemiology [16]
- Sex: ♀ > ♂
- Age: often > 60 years
- Second most common cause of hyperthyroidism
- Develops in 10% of patients with a long-standing nodular goiter
- More prevalent in iodine-deficient regions
Pathophysiology
- Chronic iodine deficiency/thyroid dysfunction → decreased hormone production → increased hypothalamic TRH secretion → persistent TSH stimulation of the thyroid gland → hyperplasia of thyroid nodules, some more active than others → multinodular goiter (nontoxic MNG)
- Multiple somatic mutations of TSH receptor occur in long-standing goiters (> 60% of cases) → autonomous functioning of some nodules (toxic MNG) → hyperthyroidism (due to ↑ release of both T3 and T4)
Clinical features [16]
- Painless goiter with multiple palpable nodules
- Symptoms of thyrotoxicosis
Diagnostics [16]
For the initial workup of a nodular goiter, see “Diagnostic approach to thyroid nodules.”
- Thyroid function tests: ↑ T3 and ↓ TSH
- Thyroid ultrasound: multiple nodules within the thyroid parenchyma; increased perfusion
-
Thyroid scintigraphy [12]
- Increased radioiodine uptake by multiple hyperfunctioning (hot) nodules
- Decreased uptake (suppression) by the rest of the gland and intervening parenchyma
- Hypofunctioning or cold nodules may also be present in the multinodular gland.
- FNAC: not routinely required (see “Indications for FNAC of thyroid nodules”)
- Histopathology of resected tissue: patches of enlarged follicular cells distended with colloid and with flattened epithelium
Treatment [10][17]
-
Initial management: treatment of hyperthyroidism
- Beta blockers for symptom control
- Antithyroid drugs to achieve euthyroidism
- Definitive treatment options [9]
Thyroid cysts
Classification and etiology [7]
- Simple cysts are exclusively fluid-filled nodules lined by benign epithelial cells.
- Complex cysts are partly solid and partly cystic and carry a 5–10% risk of malignancy. [19]
- Most commonly due to cystic degeneration of thyroid tissue or involution of an adenoma
Clinical features
- Palpable thyroid nodule
- Hemorrhage into a cyst → pain and rapid enlargement of the nodule
- A large cyst or extensive hemorrhage can cause compression symptoms (e.g., hoarseness, dysphagia).
Diagnostics [6]
The initial workup is the same as that for other thyroid nodules (see “Diagnostic approach to thyroid nodules”).
- Thyroid function tests: typically normal
-
Thyroid ultrasound
- Cystic components appear anechoic.
- May be mixed with solid components
- FNAC: based on FNAC indications for thyroid nodules [6][20]
Treatment [6]
-
Benign cysts
- Asymptomatic cysts: observation
- Large or symptomatic cysts (or patient preference)
- Aspiration with/without ethanol ablation [21]
- Surgery may be considered if aspiration is not effective.
- Malignant cysts: See “Thyroid cancer.”
Special patient groups
Pregnant patients [3]
Management of thyroid nodules in pregnancy is similar to those in nonpregnant patients, except for the following points.
-
Diagnostics
- In patients with low TSH, thyroid scintigraphy should be deferred until after pregnancy and cessation of breastfeeding.
- Newly symptomatic or growing thyroid nodules should be followed up with thyroid ultrasound.
- FNAC may be safely performed during pregnancy if indicated.
-
Treatment
- RAIA is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- If thyroid cancer is suspected or diagnosed during pregnancy:
- Postpone surgery until after the pregnancy, unless there are signs of aggressive cancer or advanced growth; surgery is relatively safe during the second trimester.
- If surgery is deferred, consider administration of levothyroxine to maintain TSH at low to normal levels.