What is a thyroid cyst?
A thyroid cyst is a fluid-filled sac that has grown on the thyroid. The cyst may be very small (less than 1 mm in diameter) or so large that it may be visible to the naked eye, appearing as a lump on your throat. Some cysts are entirely filled with fluid (“cystic”) and others are composed of both fluids and solids (“complex”). If the cyst is large and complex, a doctor may want to biopsy its components to make sure that it is not cancerous. Symptoms of a Small Cyst People with smaller cysts (3mm or smaller) on their thyroid typically don’t have any symptoms. Most of these people will not realize that they have a cyst until a doctor discovers it during an exam. Symptoms of a Large Cysts People with larger cysts do not necessarily have any symptoms either, although they may feel or see a lump at the base of their throat. However, sometimes those with large cysts may feel it pressing against their windpipe, have pains in their neck, have trouble swallowing, or less frequently, have a chan
