Risk factors for thyroid cancer include History of thyroid irradiation, especially in infancy or childhood Age < 20 years Male sex Family history of thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 A solitary nodule Dysphagia Dysphonia Increasing size (particularly rapid growth or growth while receiving thyroid suppression treatment) Physical examination Signs that suggest thyroid cancer include stony, hard consistency or fixation to surrounding structures, cervical lymphadenopathy, and hoarseness (due to recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis).