There are great risks in surgical treatment of thyroid nodules.

Due to increased stress in life, irregular diet, and the level of medical technology, the number of patients with thyroid nodules has increased rapidly in recent years. Many patients are willing to undergo surgery because it is convenient and effective. However, the risks of surgery are high, and misuse of surgery can cause unexpected harm to patients.

The main causes of thyroid nodules:

1. Genetic factors: Relevant data show that the incidence of thyroid nodules in the offspring of a family with a history of thyroid nodules is higher than that of those without a family history, indicating that this disease is related to congenital inheritance. The cause of familial thyroid nodules is the defect of genetic enzymes, which causes hormone synthesis disorders. The accumulation of nodular tissues over time forms a thyroid adenoma, and the proliferation of local cell tissues over time forms thyroid cancer, which endangers the patient's life.

2. Iodine intake: Iodine deficiency is one of the main causes of endemic thyroid nodules. The iodine content in soil, water and food in endemic areas is inversely proportional to the incidence of thyroid nodules; excessive iodine intake affects tyrosine iodination, and the organic process of iodine is blocked, resulting in compensatory thyroid nodules. The clinical symptoms of this type of patients are not obvious, generally only with discomfort in the front of the neck. Ultrasound often shows multiple thyroid nodules, and thyroid function tests are mostly normal.

3. Infectious thyroiditis: This type of patients often have a history of "cold", spontaneous fever, neck pain and swelling, or multiple painful masses. Sometimes they mistake it for pharyngitis. It can last for weeks to months. It is mostly a self-limiting disease. Some cases will turn into a chronic process and then develop hypothyroidism. This type of patients often need to use glucocorticoids for a short period of time, combined with thyroid hormone support for a period of time to recover, and generally there are no sequelae.

4. Substances that cause thyroid nodules: There are certain substances in foods such as radish, soybeans, and cabbage that can inhibit the synthesis of thyroid hormones and cause thyroid nodules; the content of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc in soil and drinking water is also related to the occurrence of thyroid nodules; drugs such as potassium thiocyanate, potassium perchlorate, para-aminosalicylic acid, thiouracil, sulfonamides, phenylbutazone, colchicine, etc. can hinder the synthesis and release of thyroid hormones, thereby causing thyroid nodules.

5. Gene mutation: This type of abnormality includes point mutations in exon 10 of the thyroglobulin gene.

Experts do not recommend surgical treatment, in addition to the large wound, there are other reasons:

1. Surgery can easily damage the thyroid gland, leading to thyroid dysfunction and causing a variety of physical discomfort.

2. The thyroid gland is located in the neck, adjacent to important organs such as the recurrent laryngeal nerve, trachea, and esophagus. Surgery can easily damage these organs, leading to a variety of irreversible sequelae.

3. Thyroid surgery only treats the symptoms of thyroid nodules and does not cure the root cause. There is a recurrence rate of up to 80% after treatment.

4. Patients need to stay in the hospital for one week after thyroid surgery, which slows recovery and has a great impact on the patients.