Description and Possible Medical Problems
When any part of the neck swells up—on either the side or the front— the thyroid gland is usually responsible.
If you see and feel a lump or mass on one side of your neck but are still able to eat and drink as usual, you’ll probably be tempted to ignore it since it’s not painful.
However, it’s a good idea to see your doctor because you may have a condition known as thyroid nodules, which can be either a type of cyst or a benign growth known as an adenoma. A small percentage of thyroid nodules do turn out to be malignant tumors, which is why you should see your doctor so she can rule it out.
Treatment
If your doctor determines that your thyroid nodules are cysts, you probably don’t have to do anything, unless you want them removed for cosmetic reasons. If, however, the mass turns out to be an adenoma, he may recommend that your thyroid gland be altered, either with medication or with radiation treatment. If you have a hyperactive thyroid, he may prescribe Inderal or another beta-blocker to slow down your rapid heartbeat. If you have hyperthyroidism, he may want you to take propylthiouracil, or PTU, which is a medication that is taken in conjunction with the beta-blocker to reduce the amount of hormone your thyroid is producing.
If he thinks the thyroid nodules may be malignant, he will perform a blood test and a thyroid scan to determine if they are cancerous or not. If they are, all or part of the gland will be surgically removed. After surgery, your doctor will conduct a blood test to determine if you will need lifelong thyroid replacement medication, such as Synthroid, to regulate the amount of thyroid in your body. He may also prescribe a series of radioactive iodine doses to ensure that all of the malignant growth is gone. You will also need to visit your doctor regularly so that he can monitor the functioning of the gland.
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