Thyroid Disorders
You can find your thyroid gland right in the lower neck and just above the breastbone. Your thyroid gland is important because it produces hormones that regulate metabolism, namely T3 and T4. Your pituitary gland (the one in your brain) controls your thyroid gland by releasing Thyroid Stimulating Hormone or TSH.
Thyroid Nodules & Goitre
Thyroid nodules are quite common. Thyroid nodules will present as a lump in your neck that you can feel. Sometimes they are discovered when you have a medical test for another condition. About 5% of adults suffer from palpable thyroid nodules and 95% of thyroid nodules are generally benign. Patients who have thyroid nodules can still have normal thyroid function levels. The main reason you must be checked as soon as symptoms occur or the lump is discovered on ultrasound or X-ray is to know if the thyroid nodule is malignant. Thyroid nodules can be single or multiple. Goitre is the name given to an enlarged thyroid from whatever cause.
You may be a candidate for thyroid surgery if you have the following conditions:
- Benign multinodular goitre
- Grave’s disease
- Toxic multinodular goitre
- Retrosternal goitre
- Thyroid cancer