What do these bloodwork numbers mean?

[ErinMarie123]

I found out last Friday I have a thyroid nodule and I have a FNA biopsy scheduled for tomorrow morning.  I got a copy of my bloodwork results (but like an idiot not my ultrasound report - probably good b/c it'd just freak me out) and here are my thyroid numbers:

Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies: 11 (regular <35)
Thyroglobulin Antibodies 175 (regular <20)
T4 (Thyroxine), Total: 10.4 (range 4.5-12.5)
TSH, 3rd Generation: 1.42 (range .4-4.5)

Those are all the thyroid-related figures on here.  There is no T3 number.  Also, if it matters while most of my iron-related counts are in range, they are all at the very bottom of the range.

I don't know what the elevated thyroglobulin antibodies might indicate and of course my worry is cancer.  

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[laura1967]

The elevated thyroglobulin antibodies is showing a positive result for Hashimoto's Autoimmune thyroid disease. More than likely your nodule is due to Hashi's and you won't have anything to worry about! :)
Try not to freak out and take it one day at a time. I have had nodules that have come and go. One that was biopsied and not cancer.
On an added note....thyroid cancer is one of the easiest cancers to cure.
My bestest thoughts are with you!  :)

[BobJohnMD]

You do not have hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Thyroglobulin antibodies should not have been checked. Unless you have abnormal thyroid function tests (TSH,T3,T4).  They are very non-specific but very sensitive meaning that not every person with thyroglobulin antibodies has hashimotos but every person w/ hashimotos has thyroglobulin antibodies.

You do not have hashimoto's thyroiditis. If you did, you would have either hyperthyroidism (early phase with low TSH and high t3, t4) or hypothyroidism (late phase with high TSH and low t3, t4).  You have normal thyroid function.

You do have a thyroid nodule which most likely is benign and FNA is the only way to determine this.

[stella5349]

What do you mean the antibodies shouldn't have been checked? Why not check them?  They certainly should have been checked and it's blessing they were checked b/c of the high total T4 ( that may I say is the stored hormone and not the free test.

I agree with Laura that suppression of the antibodies might help you feel better.

[stella5349]

Hi Erin,

You should find it comforting that your doctor is moving toward an answer on your situation. As Laura said, don't freak out. Moving forward with an FNA is a good choice your doctor has made.  Not doing the tests he chose could definately of missed something going on.

You should be able to get a report right away if you ask. Let us know what happened.

Welcome to the community.

[ErinMarie123]

Well - I didn't have the biopsy!  I'm aggravated.  

My doctor ordered one, but the doctor at the hospital said based on the ultrasound report there was no need for a biopsy.  I have a single 5 mm complex or solid nodule and the recommendation on the ultrasound report was to follow up in a year.

Based on that info the doctor did not do the biopsy - he did not want to do a procedure that was potentially unnecessary and I certainly do not want bills for something not covered by insurance.

he said there could be more to why the FNA was scheduled but my doctor was out of the office until next week.  Fantastic!  But based on my bloodwork #'s and the findings on the ultrasound report he said waiting until next week was not a problem.  

Aggravating.

[MANmom]

Until the nodule is over 1 cm they usually won't do a biopsy.  It is too hard to get a good sample of cells on a nodule that small, so they will watch it and if it gets up to 1 cm, then you can have a biopsy.