More than 80% of people who are examined are found to have nodules, and most of these are benign, requiring only regular observation.

Hearing this, most people can breathe a sigh of relief. But there are always a few who, upon hearing that it’s nothing and only needs observation, turn away and completely neglect it, becoming too lazy to manage it.

Determining the nature of a nodule initially relies on thyroid ultrasound. The ultrasound report will emphasize the nodule’s size, shape, margins, internal structure, and whether there are microcalcifications, among other features.

If any of the following conditions are met, you must not take it lightly:

Category 1: TI-RADS category 4 and above

Category 3 and below: Most likely benign, can be followed up with reassurance.

Category 4: Suspicious for malignancy, warranting vigilance! Consider performing a core needle biopsy to establish the diagnosis.

Category 5: Highly suspected malignancy, usually requiring active intervention.

Category 2: Nodules that grow rapidly in a short period

If on this follow-up the nodule is clearly larger than it was one year ago, even if it was previously benign, it needs to be re-evaluated.

Third category: palpable and feeling progressively larger

You can feel a distinct lump in your neck with your hand, and you sense it is slowly growing, or it has become large enough to be visible externally, and may even be causing compressive symptoms, such as:

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Feeling that breathing is not smooth;

Sensation of a foreign body when swallowing, as if something is stuck;

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Voice has become hoarse.

All of these indicate the nodule is not small and may require intervention.

Fourth category: those with a family history of thyroid cancer

If a first-degree relative has had thyroid cancer, you need to be more vigilant than the average person and have follow-up examinations more frequently.

Category 5: Those with a history of radiation exposure to the head and neck

This group is at high risk for thyroid cancer, and surveillance of nodules needs to be especially stringent.

Category 6: Young male patients

Although women are more likely to develop thyroid nodules, when a nodule is found in a man the likelihood of malignancy is relatively higher. Therefore, male patients should not take it lightly.

Category 7: Younger than 20 or older than 70

Adolescents with thyroid nodules have a relatively higher risk of malignancy compared with adults, while elderly patients may experience faster progression if the lesion is malignant due to decreased physiological reserve. Both age groups require special attention.

This article is intended for public science education and does not substitute professional medical advice. For specific diagnosis and treatment plans, please follow the guidance of your treating physician.