New findings have reported that thyroid nodules in pregnant women have a greater chance of being malignant than nodules in non-pregnant patients. This information was presented at the recent Ninth Annual Meeting and Clinical Congress of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.
The researchers found that in a series of studies, pregnant patients with thyroid nodules had a thyroid cancer rate of approximately 27%. About 5% of thyroid nodules are typically cancerous in the population overall.
The researchers are speculating that pregnancy may promote thyroid nodule formation in general, or pregnancy may speed up the growth of previously cancerous nodules.
The researchers indicated that fine-needle aspiration is the optimal diagnostic method for nodules during pregnancy, and if surgery is required, it should be delayed until the second trimester or shortly after delivery.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
- For information on how to have a healthy pregnancy when you have thyroid disease, see my two-part article on the subject, Thyroid Disease and Pregnancy
- Links to other informative articles and websites featuring good information on pregnancy/thyroid disease
- Nodules, Goiter and Enlarged Thyroids, which discusses how a nodule is evaluated and treated, and how to know if a nodule is actually a sign of thyroid cancer.
- An Introduction to Thyroid Cancer, features basic information related to thyroid cancer or diagnosis of suspicious nodules or tumors
- Free Monthly Thyroid Disease News Report -- Free monthly report reporting on latest information on thyroid surgery, as well as conventional and alternative domestic and world news related to thyroid disease.
The Thyroid Forum is THE place to jump into the conversation. on thyroid disease. Here are some of the latest discussions at the Thyroid Bulletin Boards:
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