Thyroid Incidentaloma

A thyroid incidentaloma is a nodule or growth in the thyroid gland that is discovered by chance, during an imaging study ordered for another reason. Most of these findings produce no symptoms and are identified unexpectedly.

When should you see a doctor? After detecting a nodule of this kind, it is worth having an evaluation to help characterize it and determine whether it requires follow-up, although in many cases these are findings of little significance.

Common symptoms: It is usually silent; in some cases a lump in the neck or changes in the area of the gland may be noticed.

Which specialist treats it? The endocrinologist is the doctor who studies the thyroid gland and guides the evaluation of a thyroid incidentaloma; in minors, the pediatric endocrinologist gets involved. Discussing the finding with this specialist allows you to make informed decisions.