Firm mass in thyroid of an elderly patient: not always cancer.

A solid and rapidly growing thyroid mass in elderly patients can hide a multifaceted variety of diseases, both benign and malign. A multidisciplinary team (endocrinologist, surgeon, radiologist and pathologist) could be necessary in order to perform a correct differential diagnosis and therapeutic approach. Surgery can be decisive not only to clarify a clinically uncertain diagnosis, but also to rapidly improve the clinical conditions of the patient.