Diseases

Follicular Adenoma

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A follicular adenoma is a benign encapsulated tumor of the thyroid gland. It is a firm or rubbery, homogeneous, round or oval tumor that is surrounded by a thin fibrous capsule. A follicular adenoma is a common neoplasm of the thyroid gland. In two autopsy series, the incidence of thyroid adenoma was 3 and 4.3% [1, 2].

SYMPTOMS

Most patients with a follicular adenoma or follicular carcinoma of the thyroid gland present with a solitary thyroid nodule in an otherwise normal thyroid gland. However, both may occur in association with thyroiditis and/or nodular hyperplasia. Most patients are euthyroid and asymptomatic.

CAUSES

In contrast, a multinodular goiter is usually thought to result from a hyperplastic response of the entire thyroid gland to a stimulus, such as iodine deficiency. Careful pathological examination may be necessary to distinguish a thyroid adenoma from a minimally invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma.