Aunt Chen, 73 years old
Recently, I had some quarrels with my daughter-in-law
The cause was a packet of salt used at home
At the beginning of the year, Aunt Chen did a physical examination in the hospital, and the examination showed that Aunt Chen's thyroid gland had nodules. This can make Aunt Chen panic, and the uncles and aunts in the community have given Aunt Chen "advice", the most said of which is to replace the salt at home with non-iodized salt. At everyone's suggestion, Aunt Chen changed the salt in the house, but this caused the daughter-in-law to worry.
I heard that children's iodine deficiency will cause children to be short in stature, and even affect the child's intellectual development, if you use completely iodized salt, you are worried that it will cause your child's insufficient iodine intake.
Aunt Chen's grandson Xiaole is 8 years old this year, and it is when she grows up that Aunt Chen's daughter-in-law is worried that long-term consumption of non-iodized salt will affect the health of her children. Should Iodized Salt be used? Aunt Chen's family was entangled.
"In the usual outpatient clinic, there are many patients like Aunt Chen who are 'extreme', and as soon as they find thyroid nodules, they talk about iodine discoloration." Xie Qiuping, deputy chief physician of the Thyroid Surgery Department of the Second Hospital of Zhejiang University, said, "In fact, this is a misunderstanding, for most thyroid nodule patients, we do not recommend a low-iodine or iodine-avoidant diet." ”
Director Xie Qiuping
Iodine, not as little as possible. Excessive iodine intake does cause an increase in the incidence of hyperiodoidism and other diseases, and may also increase the proportion of papillary carcinomas in thyroid malignancies. But iodine intake is not as small as possible. In fact, iodine is one of the essential trace elements of the human body, and lack of iodine can cause iodine deficiency diseases and affect the thyroid gland, such as causing an increase in follicular nodules.
Low-iodine, non-iodized salt is only suitable for special populations. Iodine intake needs to be controlled within a reasonable range, but for some special patients, it is indeed recommended to eat low iodine, non-iodized salt, such as hyperthyroidism patients, especially patients who are ready to do I131, as well as thyroid cancer patients, some Hashimoto thyroid (that is, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis) patients. Whether thyroid patients need a low-iodine diet, it is best to go to the hospital to listen to the advice of a professional doctor and do not eat low-iodine, non-iodized salt without authorization.
With the improvement of everyone's health awareness, many people will do regular physical examinations or health examinations, and thyroid nodules often appear in examination reports. "In addition to low iodine and no iodized salt, patients still have many misunderstandings about "nodules". Dr. Xie Qiuping said.
Myth 1: Thyroid nodules are cancerous
Thyroid nodules are clumps with one or more structural abnormalities in the thyroid gland for various reasons. In addition to thyroid cancer, thyroid nodules are also common as thyroid adenomatous proliferative nodules, thyroid infections and inflammation, benign thyroid tumors, thyroid cysts, and so on.
Therefore, it is not a nodule, it is bound to be cancerous, and further examination is required in a regular hospital to make a clear diagnosis. Currently, bilateral and thyroid ultrasonography is the preferred test for thyroid nodule screening, and can initially determine the benign or malignant nature of the nodule.
Myth 2: Doing CT can cause thyroid nodules
There are many factors that cause thyroid nodules, such as age, sex, region, etc., which are factors in the pathogenesis of thyroid nodules, and in general, women, the elderly, areas with iodine deficiency, and those who have a history of cervical radiation are more likely to suffer from thyroid nodules.
Many people are nervous about having a history of cervical radiation. It is true that studies have shown that people with a history of radiation in the neck under the age of 14 are more likely to develop thyroid nodules. But don't worry too much, ordinary CT and other treatment is not related, only radiation therapy or nuclear radiation, etc., to reach a certain dose, will increase the possibility of thyroid nodules.
Myth 3: Thyroid nodules can affect pregnancy
Thyroid nodules themselves do not reduce the chance of pregnancy, but patients with elevated thyroid antibodies have an increased chance of miscarriage, so thyroid patients should monitor thyroid levels during pregnancy, actively take thyroxine replacement drugs, and control within a reasonable range (stricter than usual). However, for thyroid cancer patients, it is recommended to re-conceive after surgery or I131 treatment for 6 months to one year.
Myth 4: If you have a nodule, you have to cut it off immediately
Many patients feel that with a nodule, it should be cut immediately, in fact, for the treatment of thyroid nodules, deficiencies and excesses are not appropriate, and there is no difference in the risk of malignancy of multiple nodules and individual nodules. However, surgery is required if:
1. Thyroid nodules are malignant
2. The thyroid mass is huge, and there are various discomforts such as compression of the trachea
3. Retrosternal goiter
4. Hyperthyroidism, repeated drug therapy is ineffective or intolerable
5. Multiple nodules, combined with high-functioning adenoma
In addition to these, because the benign nodules of the thyroid gland are convex, which has a relatively large impact on the appearance, patients have a strong willingness to operate and can consider surgery.
Myth 5: Thyroid surgery will definitely affect the aesthetics
Because the thyroid gland is located in the neck, many people worry that after surgery, it will leave scars on the neck and affect the quality of life. How can we not only affect the appearance, but also cure the disease?
Chest access
Cross-entry
Since 2005, the Department of Thyroid Surgery of the Second Hospital of Zhejiang University has been committed to cosmetic and minimally invasive thyroid surgery, including chest approach, orifice approach, robotic surgery and other methods. In addition, the mature laparoscopic surgery, which is 5 times larger than the open surgical field, can not only achieve the treatment effect of open surgery, but also facilitate the protection of important tissue structures, reduce the wound to a minimum, help patients get rid of knife scars, and maintain the beauty of the neck.
Footage | Thyroid Surgery Xie Qiuping
Text | Publicity Center Chen Dan
Audit | Chen Guozhong Thyroid Surgery Wang Ping
Editor-in-charge | Chen Dan