really scared

[MMKK37]

I have hashimoto's and I was diagnoses in the summer of 2001. When living in Tx. My endo would do an ultrasound when I went in because I have a nodule on my thyroid. Lately I have been suffering from a hoarse voice and my new endo in our ne state we live in ordered a ultrasound last week. I went and have now been told I need to have  a FNA. Is this usually just to rule cancer out, I guess what I mean is do most people with nodules gwet and FNA? Also, can benign nodules cause hoarseness and feeking of fullness in throat? My thyroid levels were normal when they checked them.

[898]

If nodule is solid, larger then 1 cm, and/or has increased blood flow [vascular], then the biopsy is the next step. If nodule is large enough to be seeing/ palpated it can cause the symptoms, but even the smaller nodules can cause the same issues, if they impir movement of voice box.

[MMKK37]

I just talked to dr. and evidently I have two nodules. So you can have large nodules that cause hoarseness that are benign? I don't have any pain or swollen lymph glands.

[898]

The large benign nodule composed of fibrous [scar-like ]tissue can also cause hoarse voice. What are the sizes and where nodules are located [lobe, ishtmus]?

[MMKK37]

Not sure, I have a call into him now, he di9dn't mention that. I  know I had one before, and now I have two. Should these have shrunk since I am on levoxyl 100 mcg once a day, and have been for years?Is it possible to have large nodules that don't shrink that are benign? I thought the hospital when they called said I had nodules on either side, whatever that means.

[898]

The levoxyl is not effective to shrink the nodules, it can in some cases slow down their growth. the term nodule is used to describe variety of thyroid lesions, made from different tissue, so not all nodules can respond to the hormone treatment. For example that benign cold nodules composed fropmfibrous tissue can grow, and usually cannot shrink.
In longstanding case of chronic autoimmune thyroid inflammation, the nodules can form from thyroid tissue 'debree'. Most likely uo have one nodule in each lobe.
Last but not least during the thyroid inflammation the areas of inflammed tissue can form pseudo-nodules which also loking like nodules on the ultrasound.

[MMKK37]

Thnaks so much for all of the info. The endo. I went to felt the nodule, but didn't say much about it. I am in the process of finding a new Dr., I am just not crazy about this guy.Si if I have a nodule in each lobe is that indicative of cancer?

[d022767]

i had 5 nodules and have been monitoring them for 3 years...had 2 different FNA's done on them 6 months apart. First one was indeterminate and the other benign.  I was put on Levoxyl 50mg daily to see if they would shrink and they were still growing.  So just last week I had a Total Thyroidectomy to rule out cancer and my thyroid was very enlarged.  Everything came back benign.  So that is good news.  FNA is done to rule out cancer.  

[MMKK37]

Thanks so much, I am just so distraught over this and I don't know why. I have four little kids and the thought of anything being wrong with me scares me. I just got nervous because he ordered a ultrasound first and I just don't understand why he didn't go right to the fna. I have been hoarse forever and was concerned that it automatically meant cancer.

[898]

Well, the nodules are tend to grow during pregnancy;also post-partum thyroid inflammation may take place.

[MMKK37]

I had babies in 1995,1998,2000, and 2004. So, 898, people can have nodules with hoarseness and it can be benign is basically what you are saying? Do you think they will biopsy both nodules?

[898]

If both nodules are greater then 1 cm, cold and solid , both of them can be biopsied, if one nodule is small 5 mm [.5 cm], let say, they may do biopsy on the largest nodule

[MMKK37]

If they are benign is there a way to shrink them without surgery?Or keep them from not getting any bigger?

[MMKK37]

OK. I just talked to the doctor, he did not have my chart at home with him, but he told me that the bigger of my two nodules is not very big. He said it is big enought to warrant a biopsy, though. I have been hoarse and feel like a golf ball is stuck in my throat, but he said my nodule is not big enough to cause that. I do have chronic sinutitis so maybe that is the problem with the hoarseness. I am still nervous about the biopsy, just wanted to know others peoples outcomes with FNA?

[Dnmh]

I have a multinodular goiter (6 nodules) with one being "complex and dominant" measuring 1.4cm x 1 cm x .8cm. I had an FNA Apr 07 and it came back Not specific so just had another ultrasound. There is a minor chance that I will have cancer, but even still, the odds are in my favor. Most thyroid nodules are benign. I believe it's less than 5%? And it's been said that if you have to have cancer - thyroid cancer is the one you want. Most are highly treatable with a very positive outcome.

[898]

The alternative ethanol ablation is used for cystic nodules [but not very often]; I know that method was tried for solid nodules too, but with low good outcome [30%, for really small sample group]. The laser ablation was put on trial in February of this year.
Most benign nodules are growing up to 15% on it's largest side in 12 months period
[if it was 10 by 10 mm it will be 11.5 by 11.5 next year]

[MMKK37]

I should get the report in the mail from the scan today. Once I find out the size of each noduel I will post it. Is there any thruth to the fact that if you have more than one nodule that it is less likely cancer? He said I have to with one being bigger than the other, but it is also quite small.

[898]

As far as I know the researchers are dropping this theory now.

[Dnmh]

I have read that in some medical publication. I have also read that some experts are believe that if there is a family history of multinodular goiter it increases the chances of thyroid cancer. Have you heard anything like that?
D.

[898]

No

[lola1973]

Ok, and as far as neck pain with thyroid is it ony indicative of cancer or can it be from beinign nodules? Would the neck pain be in the front or the back of neck?

[Dnmh]

From a brochure from the National Cancer Institute:

"Family history of goiters or colon growths: A
small number of people with a family history of
having goiters (swollen thyroids) with multiple
thyroid nodules are at risk for developing papillary
thyroid cancer. Also, a small number of people with
a family history of having multiple growths on the
inside of the colon or rectum (familial polyposis) are
at risk for developing papillary thyroid cancer."

[MMKK37]

OK. I finally have the size of my nodules. The one on the left is 0.62 cm and the one on the right side is 1.53 cm. Any thoughts on this?

[898]

If these nodules having the simlar composition, the FNA should be done only for the larger one.
Hashomoto's patients are always at higher risk of development nodules, as a "by-product of thyroid destruction"

[MMKK37]

He wrote on the prescription that he is only doing the fna on the larger one. So with hashimoto;s you usually have nodules? Also, he kept saying last night when I talked to him that it isn't that big, is that true? He feels my hoarsness is due to my chronic sinusitis and I also have mild reflux. My hoarseness comes and goes along with the feeling of a lump in my throat which I guess are all indicative of reflux, anxiety, and sinus. Do you feel that a nodule the size of mine would not cause these problems?