Follicular adenoma of the thyroid is a noncancerous mass in the thyroid gland. The textbook "Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease" describes these masses as having well-defined borders; under the microscope, individual cells may look like normal thyroid cells or like thyroid cancer cells. The textbook "Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Otolaryngology" notes that it is difficult to determine, based on an imaging study such as a CT scan, whether a thyroid mass is a benign adenoma or a malignant carcinoma; other tests must be done to make this distinction. Though often asymptomatic, some complications of follicular adenoma may occur.
Neck, Jaw, or Ear Pain
"Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease" explains that most thyroid adenomas do not cause symptoms--they are found by a physician doing a routine physical examination on a patient. However, if the adenoma is large enough, the patient may experience pain. The thyroid gland is located in the upper neck, so pain from a tumor that is growing within the thyroid may be felt in the neck itself, around the jaw, or even around the ear. The American Thyroid Association reassures patients that most thyroid nodules do not cause such symptoms and are painless.
Difficulty Swallowing
In some cases, an adenoma may grow large enough that it results in the patient experiencing problems with swallowing food or liquid. This situation is called dysphagia, and can be uncomfortable or even painful. If the swallowing difficulty persists, or if the patient does not seek medical attention, this complication can lead to other complications, such as weight loss from eating less food than usual. As with the other symptoms that are sometimes associated with thyroid nodules such as follicular adenoma, this unpleasant symptom does not occur frequently.
Hyperthyroidism Symptoms
Some adenomas may produce the hormone that is normally produced by the thyroid gland itself--thyroid hormone. A patient with a thyroid hormone-producing adenoma will experience symptoms consistent with hyperthyroidism. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism tend to reflect the fact that the metabolism of the patient is being "revved up" and include nervousness or anxiety, tremors, weight loss, a racing heart, and increased perspiration. Heat intolerance may also develop; this is a situation in which the person is much more sensitive to heat than usual. A person with heat intolerance may perceive a room to be much warmer than it actually is, and get overheated, become very sweaty, and feel very uncomfortable. The American Thyroid Association patient brochure adds that symptoms of hyperthyroidism are a rare manifestation, or complication, of a follicular adenoma.
References
- "Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Otolaryngology;" A. Lalwani; 2008
- American Thyroid Association: Thyroid Nodules
- "Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease;" R. Cotran et. al.; 1999
- American Thyroid Association: Hyperthyroidism
