Editing Thyroid neoplasm (section)

==Treatment==
Treatment of a [[thyroid nodule]] depends on many things including size of the nodule, age of the patient, the type of [[thyroid cancer]], and whether or not it has spread to other tissues in the body. If the nodule is benign, patients may receive thyroxine therapy to suppress [[thyroid-stimulating hormone]] and should be reevaluated in six months.<ref name=hu/>  However, if the benign nodule is inhibiting the patient's normal functions of life; such as breathing, speaking, or swallowing, the [[thyroid]] may need to be removed.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} Sometimes only part of the thyroid is removed in an attempt to avoid causing hypothyroidism.  There is still a risk of hypothyroidism though, as the remaining thyroid tissue may not be able to produce enough hormones in the long-run.{{cn|date=October 2021}}

If the nodule is malignant or has indeterminate cytologic features, it may require surgery.<ref name=hu/>  A [[thyroidectomy]] is a medium-risk surgery that can result in complications if not performed correctly.  Problems with the voice, nerve or muscular damage, or bleeding from a lacerated blood vessel are rare but serious complications that may occur.  After removing the [[thyroid]], the patient must be supplied with a replacement [[hormone]] for the rest of their life.  This is commonly a daily oral medication prescribed by their [[endocrinologist]].<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Hannoush ZC, Weiss RE | title = Thyroid Hormone Replacement in Patients Following Thyroidectomy for Thyroid Cancer | journal = Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal | volume = 7 | issue = 1 | pages = e0002 | date = January 2016 | pmid = 26886951 | pmc = 4737508 | doi = 10.5041/RMMJ.10229 }}</ref> 

Radioactive [[iodine-131]] is used in patients with papillary or follicular thyroid cancer for ablation of residual thyroid tissue after surgery and for the treatment of thyroid cancer. Patients with medullary, anaplastic, and most Hurthle cell cancers do not benefit from this therapy.<ref name=hu/> External irradiation may be used when the cancer is unresectable, when it recurs after resection, or to relieve pain from [[bone metastasis]].<ref name=hu/>