Description
A thyroid nodule can be concerning, but getting answers shouldn’t take weeks. At UAMS Health, patients with thyroid nodules and suspected thyroid cancer have access to a streamlined, multidisciplinary approach designed to provide answers and a treatment plan as quickly as possible.
In this video, Dr. Mauricio Moreno, head and neck surgeon at UAMS Health, explains the common signs and symptoms of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer, including neck swelling, difficulty swallowing and hoarseness. He also discusses how thyroid cancer is treated and why evaluating nearby lymph nodes is an important part of care.
Unlike traditional care models that may require multiple appointments with different providers, the UAMS Thyroid Nodule Clinic offers same-day ultrasound, biopsy and pathology review, allowing many patients to leave with a diagnosis and a clear next step in a single visit.
Learn how UAMS Health is helping patients receive faster answers, personalized treatment plans and expert care for thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer.
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Transcript
Treatment for thyroid cancer always requires some degree of surgery. Thyroid cancer begins in the thyroid but commonly spreads to the lymph nodes. The most common type spreads to the lymph nodes frequently, so treatment typically involves removing both the thyroid and the affected lymph nodes.
The most common symptom of a thyroid nodule is a visible growth or asymmetry in the neck. Larger nodules can be seen externally. Depending on their size, they may also compress nearby structures such as the esophagus — the swallowing tube in the neck — causing difficulty swallowing. In cases of malignancy, if the nodule or cancer involves the nerves that control the vocal cords, hoarseness is another common symptom.
Patients diagnosed with thyroid nodules typically have to go through multiple visits and procedures with different providers before reaching a diagnosis. At our clinic, we have combined all of that into a single-day visit. The ultrasound is done the same day. The biopsy is done the same day. The biopsy is interpreted on-site by a pathologist who comes directly to clinic. And if surgery is needed, our head and neck surgeons are involved immediately.
What normally takes several weeks is compressed into approximately one and a half hours, ending with a clear path of action for the patient. There is nothing like this in the state of Arkansas — and in fact, it is quite rare in the United States as a whole. It is a very unique setting.
