Follicular Mass on Thyroid

My wife has a 3 cm mass on her Thyroid. We had a fine needle biopsy performed and it came back as a follicular mass. Does this mean that if it is cancerous that it is Follicular or could it still be anaplastic? I have just read that the medullary does not occur amongst follicular cells and the anaplastic are highly abnormal looking. I am just trying to reassure her that even if it is cancer it is highly treatable but knowing this would help me to calm her down a bit. Thanks for your time.

[bluestarmom187]

I think you need to post exactly what the FNA results where. Mine listed this;

"Follicular derived neoplasm suspicious for papillary thyroid carcinoma arising in a background of chronic lymphoctic thyroiditis"

so you see...there should be more detail to the FNA. Ask your doctor for a copy of the pathology report. This will help you with your research as well. While you are at it get a copy of the ultrasound report as well. You need to know if it is a hot or cold mass and solid or liquid mass.

At this point mine is still consider Papillary Thyroid cancer. There is a concern that it has turned anaplastic only because of the rapid growth in my neck so that will be confirmed when I have my sugery on the 18th.

Anaplastic cancer forms out of Papillary cancer if left untreated. At least this is my understanding.

Please tell your wife to try not to worry...trust me..this will be a roller coaster ride. I have found that it is very hard to get straight answers from doctors. Thats why I just got copies of all of my test and started doing just what you are. This forum has a lot of great people with a lot of experience with this stuff.

Best wishes

[4helen]

PLEASE reassure her that whatever the underlying FNA truth---malignant, suspicious, or benign---it is all treatable!!  As a recent card carrying member of the Follicular Neoplasm Club too (4cms --2 FNAs with 2 different pathologist's opinions) have learned that it is important to keep clarifying the info (as you are doing)---get the report, have full thryoid bloods taken, check about vit d and iodine deficiencies, seek 2nd opionions if need be.  Nodules are common, cancer of which is not (10percent for follic neop's); size of nodule and the fact that it is solitary will concern your wife's doc - esp if it grows, and she may be offered to have it removed along with the half of thryoid it occupies.That is the stinky thing about membership to this club---definitative verdict of malignancy can't be reached until post-op pathology---and the choice for surgery is often not easy, but it is highly individual and a decision best taken with help of as much info as you can get and guidance of a good doc!  The Amer Assoc of Clinical Endocrinologist have a good guidelines document for diagnosis and managment of nodules---I will try to find link . Keep posting here ---so many good people will help who understand the fear and difficulty involved.  : )  

[4helen]

http://www.aace.com/pub/pdf/guidelines/thyroid_nodules.pdf

I found this very helpful in understanding the next steps. : )