You are conducting a physical examination on a patient and findings include three small nodules in the enlarged right lobe of the patient's thyroid gland.These findings most likely indicate

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Asymmetrical enlargement of the thyroid and the presence of two or more nodules are thyroid adenomas (benign epithelial tumors).These nodules usually occur after the age of 30.A solitary nodule is suggestive of carcinoma of the thyroid.Cancerous nodules tend to be single,painless,hard,and fixed to surrounding structures.Palpation of the thyroid gland which reveals a lateral deviation of the trachea with no identifiable goiter may be a retrosternal goiter.This type of goiter sometimes occurs in a patient with a short neck or a goiter with many adenomatous nodules.Tenderness of an enlarged,firm thyroid suggests thyroiditis.

You Are Conducting a Physical Examination on a Patient and Findings