Assessment of thyroid mass

no specific history unless the nodule is large and causes mass effect; may have incidental radiologically-detected mass

may have palpable mass

more common among patients with a history of high-dose ionising radiation exposure to the head and neck; however, most nodules do not present with historical findings suggesting their presence unless they cause obstructive symptoms due to large size; may have incidental radiologically-detected mass

may have palpable mass

no specific history that is suggestive unless the nodules are large and cause mass effect

thyroid nodules may or may not be palpable

frequently asymptomatic, presence of a thyroid nodule, dysphonia, prior head and neck irradiation, family history of first-degree relative with history of differentiated thyroid carcinoma; female sex, mean age of diagnosis 45 years (papillary); mean age of diagnosis 50 years (follicular)

physical characteristics of a thyroid nodule are poor predictors of malignancy; however, the following characteristics portend a higher risk of malignancy: nodules >4 cm in size, firmness on palpation, fixation of the nodule to adjacent tissues, cervical lymphadenopathy, and vocal cord paralysis

clinically, these patients often present with thyrotoxicosis; patients tend to be younger (<40 to 50 years)

toxic adenomas may or may not be palpable; patient should be evaluated for signs of hyperthyroidism, which include tachycardia, arrhythmias, muscle wasting, tremor, brisk reflexes, and friable hair

thyroid gland enlargement and symptoms of hyperthyroidism such as irritability, increased perspiration, heat intolerance, palpitations, tremors, anxiety, insomnia, fine brittle hair, frequent bowel movements, and weight loss; patients usually >40 to 50 years

thyroid nodules may or may not be palpable; other non-specific signs of hyperthyroidism include tachycardia, arrhythmias, muscle wasting, tremor, brisk reflexes, and friable hair

family history of medullary thyroid cancer, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes 2A and 2B

physical characteristics of a thyroid nodule are poor predictors of malignancy; however, the following characteristics portend a higher risk of malignancy: nodules >4 cm in size, firmness on palpation, fixation of the nodule to adjacent tissues, cervical lymphadenopathy, and vocal cord paralysis

rapidly enlarging, painful neck mass; dysphagia, dysphonia, stridor

irregular fixed thyroid mass invading into surrounding tissue, fixed vocal cords, neck lymphadenopathy

rapidly enlarging, painless neck mass; compressive symptoms, history of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis

painless neck mass that is fixed to surrounding tissues; unilateral or bilateral neck lymph node enlargement is present in about 50% of patients; should be differentiated from anaplastic carcinoma​

no specific history unless the nodule is large and causes mass effect

may have palpable mass

painless neck mass (intermittent enlargement possible), dysphagia (rare and can occur with or without tongue base involvement), usually painless but rarely may become infected and cause fever and pain

thyroglossal duct cyst moves on protrusion of tongue as well as with swallowing; this may help to differentiate it from thyroid nodules, which do not move with protrusion of the tongue

thyroid pain, fever, dysphagia

overlying erythema, asymmetrical tender goitre, neck lymphadenopathy

occurs predominantly in women, peak incidence is between 30 and 50 years of age, painful and enlarged thyroid, fever, symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection

thyroid palpation usually reveals exquisite thyroid tenderness

often results in hypothyroidism with rare, transient bouts of hyperthyroidism

painless, irregular, firm goitre of variable size on palpation

generally painless, may present with small goitre, usually among females, may be symptoms of hyperthyroidism such as palpitations, heat intolerance, and weight loss in initial phase, and a presentation consistent with hypothyroidism in the later phase

half of the patients may have painless goitre

bulging of eyes, neck mass, and symptoms of hyperthyroidism such as irritability, increased perspiration, heat intolerance, palpitations, tremors, anxiety, insomnia, fine brittle hair, frequent bowel movements, and weight loss

diffuse thyroid enlargement, exophthalmos with lid retraction, pretibial myxoedema; other non-specific signs of hyperthyroidism include tachycardia, arrhythmias, muscle wasting, tremor, brisk reflexes, and friable hair

no specific neck-related symptoms; however, hypercalcaemia may cause nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, fatigue, and altered mental status

rarely has palpable neck mass, manifestations of hypercalcaemia if present include proximal muscle weakness, hyperreflexia, lethargy, and stupor

hoarseness; hypercalcaemia may cause nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, fatigue, and altered mental status

a palpable neck mass is present in 70% of cases, which is not a common finding in benign hyperparathyroidism;​ manifestations of hypercalcaemia if present include proximal muscle weakness, hyperreflexia, lethargy, and stupor

malignancy in another organ; may have neck mass detected radiologically

may have palpable neck mass