The thyroid gland is a little butterfly-shaped gland near the front of the neck. It is separated into two lobes that are joined by the isthmus, a short band of thyroid tissue. The thyroid gland is arranged structurally in tiny follicles that store thyroid hormones. Thyroid nodules are abnormal lumps or growths that develop in the thyroid gland. They are characterised as solid, primarily solid, cystic (filled with fluid), or predominantly cystic based on the content of the nodule.