Patient's question:
The survival pressure is getting bigger and bigger, and the body is getting worse and worse. A few days ago, I felt my neck had thickened by a few inches. At first, I didn't pay much attention, but it became bigger and bigger, and I started to worry if it was something serious. I didn't want to spend money going to the hospital. So, I want to consult a doctor: Is the thyroid nodule swelling severe?Doctor's answer:
Nodular goiter generally does not cause functional changes, and the patient's basal metabolic rate is normal. However, when the nodule is large, it may compress the trachea, esophagus, blood vessels, and nerves, leading to the following symptoms. Compression of the deep cervical vein can cause difficulty in blood flow to the head and neck. Compression of the recurrent laryngeal nerve can lead to vocal cord paralysis (usually unilateral), causing hoarseness in the patient. Tracheal deviation, commonly with one side compressed, may cause the trachea to shift or bend to the other side. If both sides are compressed, the trachea may narrow, resulting in breathing difficulties, especially in cases of substernal goiter.