Another thyroid question

[bnme]

There seems to be a lot of people who know about this topic here and I didn't want to hijack the other thread, but I have a question...

A few months ago my ENT sent me for a sono for a suspected nodule on my thyroid (I was there for an entirely nonrelated reason). Based on the sono he said it looked 'fine' and we should just watch it. I actually have a follow up appt with him on Friday. I suspect he is just going to send me for another sono.

What questions should I be asking? Should I even be going to an ENT for this? I am afraid I might be missing something. How do I know whether or not they should be biopsying it? Am I overreacting?

When this was found my DH & I were preparing to travel to Baltimore for surgery @ Johns Hopkins (him) and I was completely stressed and overwhelmed by that -so I honestly haven't given this much thought until now.

Any advice would be apreciated!

[hardysmom]

Not really sure in your situation, but it is very common for some people with thyroid disease to get goiters which is sort of a lump/swelling on their thyroid. In itself, it isn't a big deal and is usally something that is watched.

An ENT would certainly know what the gland *should* feel like and I would think that sending you for a sono would be the appropriate thing. If you are still concerned and/or is continues to grow, I would call and ask more questions.

stephanie

[tiapam]

Ask if you should go to an endocrinologist. I assume you have had your thyroid levels checked and they are normal and you don't have symptoms. But think hard about symptoms, thyroid disease often has such a gradual onset, it's hard for even the patient to see it.

-Pam

DD - 3 YO

[fortato]

My sister and I both had nodules. I ended up seeing only an endocrinologist where she mostly saw an ENT after seeing my endo for a few visits.

Her nodules were different from mine, mine being malignant and hers not. But, The endo didn't recommend surgery where her ENT did. She ended up having the surgery and is fine now, does take Synthroid to make up for her odd numbers.

They will probably recommend it if they suspect anything wonky. They will probably put you on a course of Synthroid to see if it shrinks or stops the growth of the nodule.

I can't write a lot now, but I am more than happy to answer your questions if you want...

Good Luck!

[niccig]

I have a cystic nodule on my thyroid, it's big 3 x 4 cm at last appointment. My dentist noticed swelling in my neck and my regular doctor had an ultrasound done and then sent me to an endocrinologist. They did a biopsy, it was benign and I did follow up appointments to watch it.

Mine keeps growing. I've had 4 biopsies, all benign, the nodule has been aspirated and injected with ethanol twice to shrink it, and it grows back. I'm now at the point of consulting surgeons as 1) it keeps growing 2) despite 4 biopsies, I'm still worried as it keeps growing 3) large nodules can have an impact on breathing/swallowing (mine is pretty big). I would prefer to avoid surgery as my thyroid levels are normal and the surgery would mean taking thyroid pills, but because of no. 1) and 3) I don't think I can do the wait and see approach for much longer.

My advice would be to go to an endocrinologist and have them do a biopsy. Nodules are really really common and most don't cause any problems. You should also have your thyroid levels checked as some nodules can affect hormone levels. Then you'll know if it's something that you need to deal with, or if you just need to get it checked every so often.

Nicci

[bnme]

Thanks for the info. I am glad I go to the ENT tomorrow. I guess I will see what he & the next sono say. Then decide if I need to see an Endo too, for 2nd opinion.

I found some good info here:
http://www.endocrineweb.com/nodule.html

What are the symptoms of thyroid disease I should be looking for? I did have a thyroid screen on basic bloodwork from my pcp prior to all this that came back fine.

Good luck Nicci.

[niccig]

Donna, I hope all goes well at tomorrow's appointment. Nodules are really really common and most are harmless. So, don't get too worried.

As for me, I'll be fine. My family has thyroid problems, so I wasn't too surprised when this happened. I've got an appt with my endo, and I'm going to have consults with a few surgeons. I live in LA, and there's a specialist endocrine unit at UCLA and they take my health insurance. It'll all work out.

Keep us updated and ask any more questions if you have them.

Nicci

[clc053103]

I had a nodule as well- over 1 inch big. It was biopsied, came back with suspicious follicular cells, and I then had surgery to remove that half. That was 1 1/2 years ago and I am fine now- I do have a scar, and take synthroid daily. But I felt better not to wonder if I had cancer, particularly b/c my biopsy was questionable.

But if the biopsy was negative, I would have just let it go.

I would also like to offer a shout out to fortato who was wonderful and offered much advice during my time of need when I went through this!

[bnme]

Well, my ENT says it felt the same. But is sending me for another sono (Tues). He said if no change they will just continue to watch. I am not sure of the size or shape or anything but he did say it's small. If he doesn't think it needs to be biopsied should I be questioning it? Should I get a second opinion? I know these are common so maybe I am just being paranoid feeling like I need a biopsy.

Any advice?

Thanks so much. I haven't been active here in a loooooong time and was never super-active so I really appreciate the responses. I have been a regular reader since 2002 -I couldn't get by with out my BBB fix -it's my daily sanity break. Plus it's the one of the standard places I come to research things, anything kid stuff to vacuums to recipes. This is really such a great group of people.

TIA!

[niccig]

I would insist on a biopsy. They can't tell just by size or shape that it's not cancer. They can tell if it has characteristics or not of cancerous nodules, but they don't know until they do a biopsy. And even then, the results may not be conclusive.

I asked my endo because my nodule is growing, and he said that with 4 negative biopsies, no characteristics of cancerous nodule, he's 98% sure it's not cancer. He said he can only say 100% if they cut it out and send it to pathology.

Mine was diagnosed 2 years ago, and because the biopsies were negative, I was content leaving it and seeing what happened. But it's still growing so that's a concern for me and I need to do something about it. If it wasn't growing, then I would just keep watching it with regular ultrasounds and biopsies to make sure things hadn't changed.

[bensmom]

When he says that it felt the same- did he do an ultrasound and actually measure it? I believe that it's standard to biopsy anything over 1 cm and anything smaller that is suspicious.

If he can feel it, I personally would have it biopsied (I'd rather know it's negative). I'm probably biased though because DH is an endo and that's what I hear about all the time.

Ilana

CPS Tech and mom

[bensmom]

When he says that it felt the same- did he do an ultrasound and actually measure it? I believe that it's standard to biopsy anything over 1 cm and anything smaller that is suspicious.

If he can feel it, I personally would have it biopsied (I'd rather know it's negative). I'm probably biased though because DH is an endo and that's what I hear about all the time.

Ilana

CPS Tech and mom