What causes a large lump on the neck above the thyroid?
Patient: my 11 yr old son has a hard large lump in the front of his neck, above the thyroid, below the chin. he says it feels like pressure, a little gagging sometimes, and nauseous due to the pressure.  it is obvious when felt.  he states it started mid summer. Doctor: it can be an ectopic thyroid gland or a thyroglossal cyst. ectopic thyroid gland is abnormal position of the thyroid gland high in the neck. thyroglossal cyst is a fluid filled swelling along the path of descent of thyroid gland during fetal life which presents later in life even though it is congenital swelling. also it can be a prominent thyroid cartilage considering his age