Should I get a thyroidectomy?

[cbma]

In a routine check up, my doctor was concerned with a nodule in my thyroid and I had a sonogram done.  They found 3 nodules on the right lobe (one of them pretty big) and a smaller on the left lobe.  I had a biopsy done and the left lobe said: chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (smears with lymphocytes in different stages of maturation, lymphoid aggregates, and groups of follicular cells, some with Hurthle cell metaplasia. On the right lobe-consistent with hyperplastic adenomatoid nodule with cystic degeneration (abundant watery colloid, numerous hisitocytes and groups and monolayered sheets of unremarkable follicular cells.) All non-malignant.  All blood work (T#,T$,TSH, antibodies etc.) are in normal range. The doctor that did the biopsy (surgeon) recommended surgery due to the hurthle cells found, he said the they are pre-malignant cells.  The bigger nodules on the right are a concern due to the size, the doctor asked me if they bother me with swallowing, breathing etc. but they really don't.  I don't know if to go ahead with the surgery, I feel fine, I have no symptoms, there is no evidence of cancer.  What do you recommend?

[MANmom]

Sounds like he is being conservative.  If the biopsy came back benign and they are causing no symptoms, watch and wait.  If you get any wierd symptoms, i.e., pain, swelling, weight loss or gain, blood pressure changes, hoarseness, swallowing difficulties, I would have another biopsy or a core biopsy, which will get more tissue to biopsy.  But keep an eye on it, and remember, you can live without a thyroid, or with half a thyroid.  If is is weighing on your mind, have one half taken out.  Then they can really do a good biopsy.  If all is well, the other half should compensate; if it is cancer, then they can take the other half out and deal with it.

[cbma]

Im 38 yrs. old and yesterday I got my second sonogram back and they realized I have 3 nodules.  Two of them seem joined at some point and measure 1.6 x 0.9 cm anf 2.3 x 1.1 cms. and the third one of is a very small and has no asymmetry measuring 0.5 x 0.3 cms. My doctor said to wait and have another ultrasound and biopsy done, I dont mind, but I am putting myself in danger delaying the surgery?  Should I have another type of test done? I heard the lymph nodes and adrenal glands can also get affected and develop into more problems.

[MANmom]

I would suggest watching them for now, how old are you?  Male or Female?  How big is pretty big?  If you are young, I suggest waiting, there is no need to rush into surgery.  Watching and waiting is fine.  Thyroid cancer rarely spreads, so until they are causing you discomfort I would wait.  But a doctor friend told me (I had the same, three on right and one on left, largest was 2.1 cm and causing hoarseness and swallowing difficulties) that you are only delaying the inevitable, the nodules will eventually have to come out - they do not go away.  The question is do you want to run the risk of no thyroid function.  There is nothing wrong with waiting 6 months then having another biopsy and/or ultrasound to check for change.