How are thyroid nodules discovered?

If a thyroid nodule grows to a large enough size, a patient or an observer may first notice it as a new lump that appears in the lower front part of the neck. Most thyroid nodules are located just to the right or left of the midline of the neck. If a lump in the lower front part of the neck moves up and down with swallowing, it is likely to be a thyroid nodule.

Thyroid nodules may also be found during routine physical examinations. To confirm that a lump is located in the thyroid gland, it is often necessary to perform special physical examination maneuvers. This usually involves having the patient swallow while the examiner watches and feels the thyroid gland.

When radiographic studies (e.g., ultrasound, CT, and MRI) are used to evaluate other conditions involving the head and neck, thyroid nodules can be incidentally discovered. These thyroid nodules tend to be smaller than those that are detected by patients and examiners. The size of such incidentally discovered thyroid nodules helps determine whether they should be investigated more thoroughly as suspicious growths.

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