What is the difference between thyroid cancer and nodules? What are the common causes of thyroid nodules?

Thyroid nodules are a very common disease. They are different from thyroid cancer. Experts point out that although these are two different diseases, their correlation is very large. According to clinical data, a considerable number of patients with thyroid nodules will develop thyroid cancer in the future. So what is the difference?

What is the difference between a thyroid nodule and a tumor?

Thyroid tumors can be divided into two categories: benign tumors and malignant tumors. Clinically, thyroid tumors often only manifest as thyroid nodules, so thyroid tumors and thyroid nodules are often used interchangeably. In fact, nodules are only a description of the morphology, which includes tumors, cysts, masses composed of normal tissues, and thyroid masses caused by other diseases. It is difficult to determine the nature of thyroid nodules clinically. Even with pathological biopsy, sometimes thyroid adenomas and nodular hyperplasia, benign tumors and malignant tumors are not easy to clearly identify. Therefore. The incidence of thyroid tumors is not easy to accurately count.

Thyroid nodules can be divided into nodular goiter, inflammatory nodules, toxic nodular goiter, thyroid cysts, thyroid tumors, etc. According to the cause, early recognition of the nature of thyroid nodules, especially distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions, is of great significance for the choice of treatment options and prognosis.

Nodules on the thyroid gland may be thyroid cancer, thyroid adenoma, nodular goiter or other causes. Before their nature is clarified, they are collectively referred to as thyroid nodules. Among them, only thyroid cancer is a malignant disease. Therefore, not all nodules found on the thyroid gland are necessarily malignant.

Thyroid tumors are common diseases, and their incidence varies greatly in different regions. Generally, the incidence of thyroid tumors in areas where thyroid tumors are prevalent is higher than that in non-prevalent areas. Among thyroid tumors, the most common is benign thyroid tumors. Thyroid cancer is not common, but has been increasing year by year in recent years. Surgery proves that 80% of single nodules are benign tumors, and 20% are malignant tumors.

Because thyroid nodules are closely related to tumors, patients with thyroid nodules must cure them as soon as possible in daily life and not delay the treatment of the disease, otherwise they will be the victims in the end. In addition, family members should also pay more attention to patients with thyroid nodules and let them recover as soon as possible.