Patients with enlargement of the entire thyroid, without specific lumps or nodules, should have thyroid function tests and an ultrasound scan. If the thyroid is not overactive, thyroid hormone is given for six months. If a nodule grows, the thyroid lobe with the nodule is removed surgically. Otherwise, thyroid hormone treatment is continued. The risk of cancer in an enlarged thyroid with many nodules is significantly lower than in a thyroid with a single nodule.
