How long should I have to wait for an ultrasound scan on a thyroid nodule? Thyroid lumps (nodules) or swellings (goitre) will usually be assessed and referred either urgently or non-urgently for an ultrasound scan. This is a guide to referral times: Same day referral Stridor (high-pitched sound when breathing) Urgent referral (two-week rule) Unexplained hoarseness of voice changes associated with a goitre Cervical lymphadenopathy (abnormally enlarged lymph nodes in head and neck) associated with a thyroid mass A rapidly enlarging, painless, thyroid mass over a period of weeks. Non-urgent referral Nodules with abnormal thyroid function tests. You should normally be referred to an endocrinologist Sudden onset of pain in a thyroid lump (this is likely to have been caused by a bleed into a benign thyroid cyst) See our guide to thyroid nodules and swellings Manage Cookie Preferences Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility