Guide To The Causes, Risk Factors, And Complications Of Thyroid Nodules

Thyroid Tissue Overgrowth

The cause of thyroid nodules can be due to thyroid tissue overgrowth or adenomatous hyperplasia. Nodules in the thyroid gland often contain fluids because of a process called cystic degeneration. The overgrowth of thyroid cells can produce bleeding from the fragile blood vessels that congregate in the thyroid tumors. Sometimes the overgrowth of the thyroid tissues can lead to an overproduction of thyroid hormone because the autonomous or hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules inappropriately produce hormones. This inappropriate production of thyroid hormone produces symptoms of hyperthyroidism, including muscle weakness, intolerance of heat, irritability, high heart rate, anxiety, and weight loss. Another mechanism where thyroid tissue overgrowth can cause the development of thyroid nodules is when increased levels of TSH in the blood cause the thyroid gland to produce more healthy thyroid tissue to help collect iodine. The increased amount of tissue produced by this process is considered to be an overgrowth of thyroid tissue resulting from a compensatory mechanism of the thyroid gland.

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Family History Of Thyroid Nodules

An individual who has a family history of thyroid nodules is at a greater risk of developing these growths than someone who does not have a family history. Several disorders passed from one individual to another through DNA can cause the development of thyroid nodules. Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes are a group of endocrine system disorders that cause the abnormal development of several tissue growths or tumors in one or more glands around the body. Mutations in the part of an individual's DNA that occur in the MEN1, RET, and CDKN1B genes are responsible for causing multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes. Familial papillary thyroid carcinoma that runs in a patient's family can cause them to be at an increased risk of developing thyroid nodules that may or may not progress into malignant carcinomas. Individuals who have a family history of multinodular goiter are more likely to develop nodules and overgrowth in their thyroid gland than individuals with no family history of the condition.

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