Thyroid Lumps: A Practical Checklist
Thyroid Lumps: what is worth doing, what is worth avoiding, and when to stop and see a doctor.
Nodules or swelling in the thyroid gland, most of which are benign. The great majority are harmless, and the small number that are not are found by assessing all of them.
Key takeaways
- Most thyroid nodules: benign
- Assessment: examination, thyroid blood tests and ultrasound
- Most useful single change: See your doctor about any new neck lump.
- Commonest mistake: Waiting to see whether a neck lump goes away.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
Do
- See your doctor about any new neck lump
- Mention any hoarseness or difficulty swallowing
- Mention previous radiation to the head or neck, or a family history of thyroid cancer
- Attend the ultrasound and any follow-up offered
Do not
- Waiting to see whether a neck lump goes away
- Assuming a lump is fine because thyroid blood tests are normal
- Ignoring a change in your voice
The numbers behind the list
Those two lists follow from the published figures here.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Most thyroid nodules | benign |
| Assessment | examination, thyroid blood tests and ultrasound |
| Further testing | fine needle aspiration biopsy if ultrasound features are suspicious |
| Concerning features | rapid growth, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, a hard fixed lump |
If you change one thing
See your doctor about any new neck lump. Start there. The rest of the list keeps.
Related topics
- Prostate Health: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise (Men's Health)
- Breast Cancer: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise (Cancer Awareness)
- Breast Awareness: What Published Guidance Supports (Women's Health)
- Acne: What Published Guidance Supports (Skin Health)
Where to go next
- Your Questions About Thyroid Lumps, Answered
- Thyroid Lumps: The Quick Reference
- Thyroid Lumps — the reference entry
- Thyroid and Hormones: The Complete Guide
- The Evidence on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Without the Hype
- The Evidence on Hormones and Mood, Without the Hype
When to speak to a doctor
See your doctor promptly for any new neck lump, and urgently for a lump with hoarseness that does not go away, difficulty swallowing, a rapidly enlarging lump, or a hard fixed lump. Call 911 for difficulty breathing or noisy, high-pitched breathing.
Where this comes from
- American Thyroid Association — Thyroid Nodules
- National Cancer Institute — Thyroid Cancer Treatment (PDQ)
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
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