Thyroid Nodules Symptoms | Neck Lumps and Hoarse Voice

Thyroid Nodules - Symptoms

What are the symptoms of thyroid nodules?

Most thyroid nodules do not cause symptoms. Thus, most people may only realize they have a thyroid nodule when it is large enough to be noticed in the mirror, or found by chance during a physical examination, or incidentally picked up on investigations like ultrasounds, CT scans or PET scans.

Some symptoms may include:

Pain: if there is bleeding into the nodule or inflammation.
Difficulty swallowing or breathing: if the thyroid gland or nodule is large.
Hyperthyroidism symptoms like heat intolerance, fast heart rate, weight loss and tremors: if the nodule produces excessive thyroid hormone.
Hypothyroidism symptoms including cold intolerance, lethargy, weight gain and weakness: if less thyroid hormone is produced.
Hoarseness: if there is a cancer invading the nerve supplying your vocal cords. This symptom warrants immediate attention.

While symptoms of thyroid nodules are gradual and may not be very obvious, complications such as bleeding into the thyroid cyst or nodule may cause a sudden and painful swelling in the neck. Patients who have advanced thyroid cancer may also have a hoarse voice and difficulty swallowing.

Is your neck lump a thyroid nodule?

If you have a lump in the middle of your neck (below your Adam’s apple) or just off the centre, which moves with swallowing, it is probably a thyroid nodule. Your doctor will be able to confirm this finding. The lump you feel may be either a solitary nodule or a dominant nodule in a background of multiple nodules, or even a diffusely enlarged thyroid gland.