1. What is goiter, why does it occur?
The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland located in the anterior part of the neck and has vital importance for our body. Its normal weight is about 20 grams and its growth for any reason is called goiter. Thyroid enlargement without nodules is called simple (diffuse) goiter, and thyroid enlargement with nodules is called nodular goiter. Various factors such as insufficient intake of iodine with food, genetic predisposition, environmental and personal characteristics are effective in the formation of goiter. In addition, in a study we conducted, we showed that there is a close relationship between obesity and thyroid size.
2. Why are thyroid hormones important?
Thyroid hormone in our body; It plays very important roles in growth, development, energy formation and energy use, providing and maintaining body temperature, and maintaining all kinds of metabolic activities normally. Therefore, under or over secretion of thyroid hormone can cause serious disorders on every organ in the body.
3. What are the signs and symptoms of thyroid diseases?
In various diseases, thyroid hormones may be overproduced and secreted (hyperthyroidism) or underproduction and secretion (hypothyroidism). If the epidemic is excessive, complaints such as palpitation, excessive appetite and weight loss despite eating, irritability, trembling in the hands, sweating, hair loss, muscle pain, diarrhea occur. Complaints such as water retention and weight gain in the body, dryness of the skin, hoarseness, constipation, and menstrual irregularity in women occur.
In structural diseases of the thyroid gland; Depending on the number and size of the nodules, there may be symptoms such as swelling in the neck, coughing due to pressure on the trachea or difficulty in breathing in advanced cases, difficulty in swallowing due to pressure on the esophagus, and hoarseness.
4. What is a thyroid nodule and how does it occur?
Round or elliptical formations that can occur in the thyroid gland are called nodules. While nodules can be detected in 5-10% of patients by palpation, it has been shown that thyroid nodules or nodules can be found in almost 50% of adult people with the widespread use of thyroid ultrasound. They are more common in women than men. The most important defining feature in nodules is whether the nodule is cancer or not. The most important method used to reveal the cancer risk of thyroid nodules is biopsies taken from the nodules with a fine needle. In general, although approximately 90% of the nodules are benign, cancer can be found in approximately 10% of the nodules.
5. What is the diagnostic method in thyroid diseases?
First of all, blood thyroid hormone levels (ST4 and TSH) should be checked. Ultrasonography examination is an indispensable diagnostic tool in thyroid diseases. In some patients, thyroid scintigraphy is also used for diagnostic purposes.
6. How are thyroid diseases treated?
Patients with suspicious or cancerous biopsy results and patients with large nodules causing mechanical compression should be operated on. In this case, most of the time the entire thyroid gland is removed and these patients have to take thyroid hormone from outside for life. In addition, in cases of thyroid hormone deficiency such as Hashimoto’s disease, patients should take thyroid hormone from outside for life. In patients with thyroid hormone excess, hormone excess should be treated with medication, radioactive iodine therapy or surgery.
