What does cold spot on thyroid mean?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. A cold nodule is a thyroid nodule that does not produce thyroid hormone. On a radioactive iodine uptake test a cold nodule takes up less radioactive material than the surrounding thyroid tissue. A cold nodule may be malignant or benign.

How often are cold thyroid nodules cancerous?

Thyroid nodules that do not absorb the radioiodine are called cold and have a 5 percent risk of being cancerous. Approximately 95 percent of thyroid nodules are cold. The appropriate thyroid nodule treatment depends upon the type of thyroid nodule that is found.

How do you know if a thyroid nodule is hot or cold?

If a nodule is composed of cells that do not make thyroid hormone (don’t absorb iodine), then it will appear “cold” on the x-ray film. A nodule that is producing too much hormone will show up darker and is called “hot.”

What causes cold nodules thyroid?

Cancerous nodules are more likely to be cold, because cancer cells are immature and don’t accumulate the iodine as well as normal thyroid tissue. However, cold spots can also be caused by cysts. This makes the ultrasound a much better tool for determining the need to do an FNA.

What’s the difference between a hot and cold thyroid nodule?

If you scan the patient’s thyroid, and the nodule turns out to be hot, chances are very good that the nodule is benign (either an adenoma or a dominant nodule in a multinodular goiter). Hot nodules are virtually never malignant. If the nodule is cold, chances are still good that it’s not malignant –…

How to tell if your skin has thyroid disease?

For the skin, this often leads to: 1 Intolerance of hot conditions – needing to wear less clothing than previously. 2 Increased perspiration and warm, moist skin, which can lead to sweat rashes in skin folds. 3 Increased hair shedding. 4 Rapidly growing nails that may lift off the nail bed (this is called onycholysis).

Is it common to have a nodule on the thyroid?

Thyroid nodules are rarely cancerous and are common, with around half of all people aged 50 likely to have at least one. As there are many different types of thyroid nodule, investigations are carried out when one is found. Thyroid scans may show that a nodule is hot, warm or cold.

How are thyroid nodules treated at the Cleveland Clinic?

Treatment options include: 1 No treatment/”watchful waiting.” If the nodules are not cancerous, you and your doctor may decide that you don’t need to be treated at this time. 2 Radioactive iodine. Your doctor may use radioactive iodine to treat hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules and goiters with several nodules. 3 Surgery.