Cystic Thyroid Disease: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Cystic thyroid disease refers to fluid-filled nodules that develop in the thyroid gland within the neck. The American Thyroid Association says a thyroid nodule is an abnormal growth of cells that form into a lump. The majority of these lumps are noncancerous.

Identification

• Nodules are either solid or filled with fluid (cystic). Cystic nodules that also are somewhat solid (called complex nodules) are treated as solid and have a higher tendency to become cancerous.

Significance

• The larger the nodule, the more likely it is that thyroid cancer may have developed. Still, more than 90 percent of solid thyroid nodules are benign. Cystic nodules are a lower risk for cancer.

Cause

• It is not known specifically what causes thyroid nodules, including cystic nodules. Most are discovered accidentally through a routine physical exam or unrelated test such as a CT or MRI.

Symptoms

• Difficulty swallowing, persistent cough, a change in voice or hoarseness, swollen lymph nodes, neck pain, a "tickle" in the throat and shortness of breath are all signs that enlarged cystic nodules may have formed in the thyroid.

Diagnosis

• A doctor will usually perform a fine-needle biopsy, a procedure in which a thin needle is used to withdraw cells from the nodule to test them for cancer. A thyroid scan or thyroid ultrasound may also be used.

Treatment

• Cancerous nodules will be removed surgically. Noncancerous growths are usually monitored and evaluated annually.