What Are the Causes of a Thyroid Adenoma?

Thyroid adenomas or nodules are benign tumors that develop on your thyroid gland. Normally, you develop only one thyroid adenoma at a time, separating them from goiters, which consist of many non-cancerous growths.

Significance

In many cases, it is not possible to determine the specific cause of a particular case of thyroid adenoma. However, there are some basic causes for all types of adenomas.

Iodine

Your thyroid requires iodine from food to produce thyroid hormones, and without this iodine, your thyroid has the potential to malfunction, causing an adenoma.

Hashimoto's disease

Hashimoto's disease is a medical condition that causes your body's immune system to attack your thyroid gland, causing inflammation and dysfunction. The actions of Hashimoto's disease sometimes lead to the formation of an adenoma on your thyroid.

Genetic Hypothalamus Abormalities

Your hypothalamus produces TSH or thyroid-stimulating hormone used to excite the thyroid gland and cause the production of thyroid chemicals. A genetic abnormality in your hypothalamus that limits or ceases the release of TSH causes thyroid dysfunction, possibly leading to an adenoma.

Damage

If you received radiation treatments for cancer to your head and neck during childhood, it is possible you suffered damage to your thyroid gland. Later in life, this can cause an adenoma to form.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Thyroid Nodules
• ThyroidProblems.org: Adenomas
• Network for Sustained Elimination of Iodine Insufficiency