If you have questions or concerns about your thyroid mass, this is a great place to start.

Top 4 Things to Know About a Thyroid Mass

1) What is a thyroid mass?

A thyroid mass is essentially the same thing as a thyroid nodule. A thyroid mass is a growth that occurs in the thyroid gland forming a lump or bump within the otherwise smooth thyroid surface. Discovery of a thyroid mass is common, occurring in 40% of women and 30% of men during their lifetime. A thyroid mass may cause symptoms but many times, people do not even know that they have one. It may require surgery to remove half of the thyroid gland or the whole thyroid gland.

2) How do I know if I have a thyroid mass?

A thyroid mass is a nodule within the thyroid gland. Because the thyroid lays on top of the breathing tube and the swallowing tube, a thyroid mass can cause trouble breathing or trouble swallowing. Therefore, if you have any of these symptoms, it may be an indication of a thyroid mass. A thyroid mass can also cause a chronic cough that is unrelated to being sick, tightness in the neck, and even shortness of breath if the thyroid mass is very large. If it is compressing on the swallowing tube, it may be difficult to swallow meats or dry bread and even require a significant effort to swallow pills.   

Sometimes a thyroid mass does not cause any symptoms and is found incidentally. This means that you are getting a scan performed for another reason, and a thyroid nodule just happens to be noted. For instance, a carotid artery ultrasound for evaluation of a stroke may note a thyroid nodule, since the thyroid is in such close proximity to the carotid arteries.

3) What is the next step after finding a thyroid mass?

Once a thyroid mass is identified either by feeling your neck or incidentally by imaging, then a dedicated thyroid ultrasound needs to be performed. A thyroid ultrasound will give details about the size and characteristics of the nodule. These findings will help us tell if your thyroid mass is suspicious appearing or benign appearing. If the nodule is suspicious appearing for a thyroid cancer, then an ultrasound guided needle biopsy would be performed to tell us about the cells in the thyroid mass. 

Learn more about next steps after finding a thyroid nodule here.

4) Does a thyroid mass need surgery?

A thyroid mass may either be monitored with yearly ultrasounds and serial biopsies or it may require surgical intervention. If the nodule is small and benign appearing and not causing any symptoms, then this type of thyroid mass may certainly by monitored with yearly ultrasounds.

If the thyroid mass is large and causing trouble breathing or trouble swallowing, then surgical removal of at least half of the thyroid gland will likely be needed. If the thyroid nodule requires a biopsy and has suspicious cells or cancer cells, then surgical removal of at least half of the thyroid gland would be needed as well.

Discover the Top 4 Facts about Thyroid Nodule Surgery here.

Summary

In summary, a thyroid mass is essentially a thyroid nodule. It can sometimes be found by you or your physician by simply feeling your neck.  Sometimes these thyroid masses cause compressive symptoms such as trouble breathing or swallowing.  Other times, they do not cause any symptoms and are found incidentally on imaging performed for some other reason. If a thyroid mass is found, an expert evaluation needs to be done to determine the next steps.  Surgery would be recommended if the thyroid mass is large, causing symptoms, or suspicious for thyroid cancer. Hospital for Endocrine Surgery

Additional Resources

• Become our patient by filling out the form at this link. 
• Learn more  The Clayman Thyroid Center here. 
• Learn more about our sister surgeons at the Scarless Thyroid Surgery Center, Norman Parathyroid Center, and Carling Adrenal Center
• Learn more about the Hospital for Endocrine Surgery.