What Causes Swelling In The Left Side Of The Thyroid Area Despite Having Normal Thyroid Test Reports?

Posted on Wed, 21 Feb 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 21 Feb 2018 Answered on

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 Last reviewed on

Question : My thyroid area on the left side is still swollen after 8 days.It seemed to be a little less today. My labs came back normal.The Free T4 was 1.06 range .78-2.1, TSH 1.38 range 0.46-4.68, thyroid antibodies 0.7 range <9.0. The swelling seems to going past the midline of my throat now. What will an ultrasound show me? If this is just a random swelling as per what the last Dr said, I hate to spend $2000 to have them tell me it 's normal. I have been having digestive issues for at least 3-4 years and have actually felt better now then I have in the past.I haven't been sleeping as well though, so I think it is aggravating my sleep apnea.

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:

Please give details and post actual photographs.

Detailed Answer:

Hi!

Thanks for your query. Noted the history and understood the concerns.

Please give additional information for me to assist you better:

Does the swelling move on swallowing? If it does then this may be a left lobe of thyroid enlargement or a lymph node attacked to the gland and/or trachea.

Is there any tenderness on pressure?
Since the swelling is present for 8 days, this probably is a thyroid cyst with hemorrhage or a lymph node that got infected.

Ultrasonography confirms what it is and FNAC if required can further confirm the cause. It is good that labs have come back normal. What is the cost of ultrasonography of neck at your place? And FNAC that is fine needle aspiration cytology cost?

Such swelling usually does not enhance sleep apnea or cause other disturbances. Digestive issues may be related to the diverticulitis that you had in 2015.

I hope this answer help you.

Regards,

Dr T Chandrakant,
General Surgeon

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar