Thyroid and neck
Thyroid and neck
Thyroid and neck consultations are for a lump or a swelling that has not gone away. Most thyroid nodules are not cancer. A lump at the side of the neck has a wider list of causes. Both are examined. Neither is diagnosed from a description.
What to bring to the visit
How long the lump has been there, whether it is growing, and whether the voice, swallowing, or breathing has changed. Previous scans and blood tests, if you already have them. A photograph is not a substitute for feeling the neck and looking at the throat.
What assessment can involve
Examination of the neck, mouth, and throat. An ultrasound when the lump needs a picture. A needle sample when the picture says the cells should be seen. Thyroid blood tests describe function. They do not clear a nodule. Care is often shared with an endocrinologist. If an operation is even relevant, who does it and at which hospital is confirmed for you. This page does not publish a roster.
What should not wait
Difficulty breathing, a rapidly swelling neck, or being unable to swallow saliva needs emergency care. A hoarse voice with a neck lump should be seen promptly, not at the end of a long queue of routine requests.
Practical questions
Does a thyroid lump mean cancer?
Usually no. The word nodule is a description. Ultrasound and, when needed, a needle test are how the worrying ones are found.
What if this feels urgent?
Difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, or a throat that is swelling quickly needs emergency care. Do not wait for a reply to the website form. A hearing loss that arrives suddenly should be assessed the same day: call the clinic, or go to an emergency department if the clinic is closed.