According to the American Thyroid Association, about 5 percent of women and 1 percent of men have thyroid nodules that can be felt by the fingers. The estimates are higher when people have a neck ultrasound. In those cases, up to 67 percent of people are found to have a thyroid nodule. Thyroid nodules do not usually cause symptoms until they become significantly enlarged.
Growing Lump in the Neck
The ATA indicates that one sign of a thyroid nodule for some patients is a lump in the neck. This may enlarge over time or stay the same. If the nodule becomes large enough, it can cause problems with swallowing or difficulty breathing. In these cases, patients may undergo treatment with radioactive iodine to shrink the thyroid or surgery to remove the thyroid. A biopsy may be done of the nodule to determine if it is cancerous. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends surgical removal of cancerous thyroid nodules.
Jaw Pain
Some thyroid nodules can cause pain in the neck on the side where the nodule is located. The pain sometimes travels to the jaw or the ear. According to the AACE, this pain can occur when there is bleeding in a cystic thyroid nodule.
Overactive Thyroid Nodule
Some thyroid nodules produce excess thyroid hormone, causing symptoms similar to hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroid symptoms include a racing heart, sweating, shaky hands and trouble sleeping. The ATA suggests that all patients with a thyroid nodule have a thyroid blood test called a TSH, or thyroid-stimulating hormone, to determine if the thyroid is functioning properly.
References
- Revised American Thyroid Association Management Guidelines for Patients with Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
- American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and Associazione Medici Endocrinological Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice for the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Nodules
- American Thyroid Association: Hyperthyroidism
