Nodules more likely to be cancerous are solid, have irregular borders, are vascular (lots of blood flow within them), and have calcifications.
Nodules over 1 cm can be biopsied
with an FNA biopsy, they take cells out
with a needle and view them under a microscope. If they are causing problems, i.e., swallowing difficulties or hoarseness, they can be removed, but they have to take the lobe of the thyroid containing the nodule with it.