Final answer:
Risk factors for malignant thyroid nodules include patient and nodule characteristics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Risk factors for malignant thyroid nodules include both patient characteristics and nodule characteristics.
1. Patient characteristics:
- Age: Older patients are at higher risk.
- Gender: Females are at higher risk.
- Family history of thyroid cancer.
- Prior radiation exposure to the head/neck area.
2. Nodule characteristics:
- Size: Larger nodules are more likely to be malignant.
- Irregular shape and border.
- Hard texture.
- Solid composition.
- Growth over time.