What does a cold thyroid nodule mean?

Thyroid nodules are a relatively abnormal condition with many clinical manifestations, including cold thyroid nodules. This situation should be taken seriously, and we can also monitor it through some methods. It can let us know the specific condition of our thyroid nodules. So what does cold thyroid nodules mean?

Cold and hot, warm and cool of thyroid nodules. It does not refer to the hot or cold temperature of the skin at the lump, but it is a method of examination in which the patient is given oral administration of radioactive element iodine and the thyroid gland is imaged using a scanner to reflect the internal tissue morphology and functional status of the gland to diagnose the disease. According to the thyroid scan. Depending on the degree of iodine accumulation, thyroid nodules are divided into four types: hot nodules, warm nodules, cold nodules and cool nodules.

"Hot nodules": Nodules absorb more radioactive material than the surrounding thyroid tissue. This type of nodule is generally a nodule with higher function, and patients often have hyperthyroidism. Hot nodules are generally not cancerous lesions.

"Warm nodule": The radioactivity of the nodule is the same as that of the surrounding thyroid tissue. This type of nodule is more common in benign thyroid tumors.

"Cold nodule": The radioactivity of the nodule is lower than that of the surrounding thyroid tissue. This type of nodule is also common in benign thyroid tumors, but can also be seen in malignant thyroid tumors.

"Cold nodule": The nodule has no radioactive appearance. This type of nodule is seen in a variety of diseases, which can be thyroid cancer or various benign lesions (such as cysts, hemorrhage, and fibronecrosis). However, if the cold nodule is large, has no clear boundary with the surrounding thyroid tissue, and is a single nodule, be aware of the possibility of thyroid cancer.

A lump is felt on the thyroid gland, but the underlying disease cannot be determined. This type of thyroid lump is collectively called a thyroid nodule. Thyroid nodules can be single or multiple; they can be benign lesions, such as simple nodular goiter, thyroid cyst, thyroid adenoma, thyroid hematoma or abscess, etc.; they can also be malignant lesions, such as thyroid cancer, metastatic thyroid cancer, etc. Therefore, after discovering a thyroid nodule, you should go to a regular hospital in time to ask a doctor to identify the nature of the nodule, which is very important for the correct treatment in the later stage!

However, it should be noted that warm, cool, cold, and hot thyroid nodules are conditions suggested by static thyroid imaging examinations. There is no direct connection between the benign and malignant nature of the nodules, and certainly cannot be used as a basis for the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. In fact, color ultrasound examination is currently the most important means of clinical diagnosis of thyroid diseases. It can not only indicate the texture, capsule and boundary of thyroid nodules, but also understand the calcification and blood supply of nodules. In addition, understanding the condition of the cervical lymph nodes through color ultrasound also provides sufficient support for determining the benign or malignant nature of the nodules and subsequent treatment.