my 11 yr old son has a hard large lump in the front of his neck, above the thyroid, below the chin. he says it feels like pressure, a little gagging sometimes, and nauseous due to the pressure.  it is obvious when felt.  he states it started mid summer.
It can be an ectopic thyroid gland or a hypoglossal cyst. Ectopic thyroid gland is abnormal position of the thyroid gland high in the neck. Thyroglossal cyst is a fluid filled swelling along the path of descent of thyroid gland during fetal life which presents later in life even though it is congenital swelling. Also it can be a prominent thyroid cartilage considering his age