Thyroid lumps and bumps.
BACKGROUND
Thyroid nodules are extremely common, with 7% of adults having palpable nodules and up to 50% having nodules visible on ultrasound. About 5% of thyroid nodules are malignant. Thyroid nodules may occur as isolated, often incidental findings, or may be associated with systemic features of thyrotoxicosis or hypothyroidism. They may be solitary or may present as a dominant nodule in a multinodular goitre.


OBJECTIVE
This article presents an outline of the common causes of lumps in the thyroid (solitary and multiple) and provides a simple approach to diagnosis and management in the general practice setting. The focus is on the patient presenting with a lump in the thyroid rather than the patient presenting with hyper- or hypothyroidism.


CONCLUSIONS
The challenge for the general practitioner is to assess the nodule and determine which patients require referral for further investigation and management. Referral may be required to exclude or confirm malignancy and is also indicated for patients who are symptomatic from benign thyroid nodules.
Brennan
Meagan
M
NSW Breast Cancer Institute, Westmead Hospital, New South Wales, Australia. meaganb@bci.org.au
French
James
J
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography