What are the key referral criteria for patients with suspected thyroid cancer in primary care?

Arrange urgent referral (for an appointment within 2 weeks) to a thyroid surgeon or endocrinologist if there is: an unexplained thyroid lump; a thyroid mass associated with unexplained hoarseness or voice change; a thyroid mass associated with cervical or supraclavicular lymphadenopathy; sudden onset of a rapidly expanding painless thyroid mass that significantly increases in size over days and weeks; a suspected thyroid nodule with other red flags or risk factors for malignancy; or a suspected thyroid nodule with associated compressive symptoms such as breathlessness or dysphagia ¹.

Consider a suspected cancer pathway referral (for an appointment within 2 weeks) for thyroid cancer in people with an unexplained thyroid lump ².