The thyroid--a small butterfly-shaped gland in the lower front of the neck--regulates the body's metabolism. There are many reasons why a person develops a lump in the thyroid, most of which are benign, reports MayoClinic.com. The treatment for a thyroid tumor depends on its cause. If a rare aggressive type of cancer is present, the treatment includes radiotherapy, surgery or chemotherapy.
Symptoms
A lump in the thyroid typically doesn't cause any symptoms until it is large or disease has progressed, notes MayoClinic.com. As it grows, the swollen thyroid may be visible or cause hoarseness or difficulty swallowing. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck may be a sign of thyroid cancer.
Benign Tumors
The vast majority of thyroid enlargements are benign, according to the American Cancer Society. Sometimes the entire thyroid gland swells up, which is called goiter. This occurs for numerous reasons, including an overactive or underactive thyroid gland.
A lump in the gland is called a thyroid nodule. Thyroid nodules are common, with about half of people having one, estimates MayoClinic.com. The American Cancer Society reports that doctors are able to feel nodules in fewer than one out of 10 people who have them, as they tend to be small. The nodule can be solid or filled with fluid, which is called a cyst.
Malignant Tumors
About one in 20 thyroid tumors are cancerous, reports the American Cancer Society. Although there are many types of thyroid cancer, one kind, papillary thyroid cancer, is most common, comprising 80 percent of cases. This slow-growing tumor typically develops in only one half of the thyroid gland. Most thyroid cancers are curable, according to Endocrineweb.com.
Risk Factors
The risk for thyroid tumors is higher in people with a family history of swollen thyroid, notes MayoClinic.com. Exposure to high levels of radiation, either from radiotherapy, atomic weapons tests or nuclear plant releases, increases the risk for benign and malignant thyroid tumors.
The risk for thyroid cancer is higher in people with certain inherited genetic disorders, including multiple endocrine neoplasia and familiar adenomatous polyposis. The risk is higher if a family member has had familial medullary thyroid cancer, a subtype of thyroid cancer.
Treatment
The treatments for thyroid tumors vary according to the cause. Biopsy is performed for most nodules. If the enlargement is benign and small, regular checkups, including thyroid blood tests, may be all that a doctor does. If the nodule is caused by abnormal thyroid hormone levels, the doctor will prescribe replacement hormones or antihormone drugs.
A surgeon will remove the tumor and possibly the entire thyroid and certain lymph nodes if the tumor is cancerous. This is followed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. For rare, aggressive tumors, the doctor may suggest a patient enter a clinical trial using a new treatment approach.
