Some thyroid nodules can be observed through visual inspection, while others cannot be seen as they vary in size, and most are very small. These nodules are often discovered during medical check-ups, specifically through ultrasonic imaging of the thyroid. Unless a thyroid nodule is particularly large, or grows outward prominently on the front surface of the neck, it can be visibly detected in a clinical setting. Thyroid nodules are quite common in thyroid diseases, and most are benign and do not require treatment, only regular follow-up examinations.