lymph node post total thyroidectomy for unilateral papillary CA

[Nicolae]

I am 55 years old and just completed the second hemithyroidectomy after being found with a single 3 cm papillary cancer on the right. I have not had the RAI yet. I noticed two lymph nodes on each side of my neck . What should happen now?FNA?Radical neck dissection. Could they be just because of post op drainage?

[amela321]

If you have palpable lymph nodes, you certainly need to bring these to your endo's attention.  Ideally, if he/she concurs they are truly enlarged lymph nodes he/she would do an ultrasound and then if they showed signs of malignancy on ultrasound, an FNA.  Assuming that was positive, the next step should be more surgery prior to the RAI.  Macroscopic lymph nodes do not respond well to RAI.  It is better to get all larger disease out of the neck prior to RAI and let the RAI take care of any residual microscopic disease.  

Enlarged lymph nodes could be a sign of infection, of course.  If I were you, I'd make an appointment and discuss this with my endocrinologist.

Good luck to you!!

Amy
Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Initially dx 1985
Recurrence 2008 and ongoing