Q: In a case involving a benign nodule, do signs or symptoms present themselves?

 

A: In the case of a benign nodule, function of the thyroid gland depends exclusively on the size of the nodule itself and any pressure it may be putting on nearby anatomical structures (trachea, esophagus). In cases involving nodules of significant size, the patient may have difficulty swallowing or experience a sense of "suffocation."