Thyroid Nodules

What are Thyroid Nodules?

Thyroid nodules—abnormal growths of tissue in the thyroid gland—are very common, occurring in up to 50% of adults. But the good news is that 90-95% of them are benign (non-cancerous). Many nodules are detected by coincidence on imaging done for other reasons, such as carotid ultrasounds, neck or chest CT, or chest MRI.

What Are the Symptoms of Thyroid Nodules?

Most thyroid nodules don't cause any symptoms, but depending on the size and location, they can sometimes cause:

A visible lump in the middle of the throat above the collar bone
Sensation of pressure, fullness, or pain in the front of the neck
Hoarseness and/or other voice changes
Difficulty and/or pain with swallowing
Shortness of breath, cough, and/or a high-pitched wheezing sound when breathing

There are several conditions other than thyroid nodules that can cause these symptoms such as allergies, sinus infections, and heartburn.

Schedule an appointment with a UR Medicine provider.

Call (585) 275-2901

UR Medicine's Treatments for Thyroid Nodules

Thyroid ultrasound and fine needle aspiration biopsy are the most reliable clinical tools for determining whether a nodule is benign or malignant (cancerous).

A fine needle aspiration biopsy is a minor outpatient procedure during which a thin needle is used to collect a sample of the thyroid nodule for examination. Most patients can resume usual activities after the biopsy without any restrictions.

Many thyroid nodules can simply be watched rather than biopsied if an ultrasound shows they are small and don’t show risky features.

Our Wolk Thyroid Clinic specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid nodules. We perform detailed thyroid nodule consultations, including discussions of risk factors, symptoms, and—if needed—ultrasounds and fine needle aspiration.

We work closely with the Department of Pathology for sample collection rapid analysis and diagnosis.

What Sets Us Apart?

We care for tens of thousands of patients a year, with subspecialty clinics that use a multidisciplinary approach to treat all aspects of gland and hormone conditions.

Our nationally recognized endocrinology providers are also recognized leaders in research, writing the endocrine literature and textbooks. So we're able to offer the latest, most advanced treatments to our patients.

Because of our expertise, we also serve as a major referral center for the entire western New York region.