The natural course of benign thyroid nodules has been studied by Durante et al. [8]. In this paper, approximately 15% of such nodules showed continuous growth of more than 20% in a mean follow-up period of 60 months. Similar findings for the growth of benign thyroid nodules have been reported by Erdogan et al.

Is it normal for benign thyroid nodules to grow?

Growth occurs over time in benign thyroid nodules in 20 to 39 % of patients, depending on whether levothyroxine and/or iodine is administered or not [8, 9].

Can thyroid nodules grow and not be cancerous?

Colloid nodules: These are one or more overgrowths of normal thyroid tissue. These growths are benign (not cancer). They may grow large, but they do not spread beyond the thyroid gland. Thyroid cysts: These are growths that are filled with fluid or partly solid and partly filled with fluid.