Thyroid nodule medical therapy
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Medical Therapy
- Patients with nodules that are making too much thyroid hormone may be treated with radioactive iodine. This treatment reduces the size and activity of the nodule. Pregnant women should not be given this treatment.
- Both surgery to remove thyroid gland tissue and radioactive iodine treatment carry risks of long-term thyroid problems.
- For noncancerous nodules that do not cause symptoms and are not growing, the best treatment may be:
- Careful follow-up with a physical exam and ultrasound A thyroid biopsy repeated 6 - 12 months after diagnosis, especially if the nodule has grown
- Another possible treatment is ethanol (alcohol) injection into the nodule to shrink it.