Should I get lymph node biopsy when I get thyrdoid nodule biopsy?

[Ellen333]

I am scheduled for a biopsy of two thyroid nodules - one is solid and one is a complex cyst.  The nodules were found recently, but I have had a lump under my jaw on the same side of my neck for a few years.  I went to an ENT a year ago and he said it felt like a benign enlarged lymph node.  Should I have this biopsied at the same time, or would the doctor just wait to see if the nodules are cancerous before investigating the lymph nodes further?

Thanks

[ChitChatNine]

Hi Ellen,

I don't know .. I had a lymph node biopsy done when I had my partial thyroidectomy but I didn't have any precursor problems.  Don't know if they can do a lymph node biopsy at the same time or is it much more involved?  

Cheryl

[shaerich]

I had a swollen lymphnode on my neck when I had my total thyroidectomy.  Because of the location, they said that depending on what they saw on the thyroid (suspicious for cancer or not), they would biopsy the lymphnode.  When I woke up the first thing I did was feel to see if they biopsied the lymphnode.  I think it all depends on how involved it is to get to that lymphnode.  Mine apparently was near a major nerve so they didn't want to mess with it if they didn't have good reason.

[Ellen333]

Thanks.  It sounds like they will just look at the lymph nodes during the thyroidectomy (if it gets to that, which I hope it doesn't!)

[goodcarol2003]

I had a total thyroidectomy 1970, and I had cancer of the thyroid,  lymph nodes, and had the parathyroid glands removed on the right side.Had to have radiation iodine twice, but that was no big dead. I got 2 weeks vacation in a hospital room all by myself. I am now 63, have been taking synthroid 0.75 and the GP wants to lower it to 0.50. I am worried that is to low, because they want my body to rest not to be over worked, and I have no symptoms of anything wrong. I have taken calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium since my surgery, and have only a little bone loss in one hip....the only problem I do have is poor memory and my head seems in a fog periodically, but have learned to live with it....