thyroid nodule and enlarged lymph node

[krex]

About 8 months ago a 1cm solid cold nodule was descovered in the lower left pole of my thyroid.  I had a hard time finding somewhere to go for my biopsy (fna) but finally it was done by an endocrynologist.  He did not use an ultrasound while doing the procedure, just went off of my original films. Resulted being benign possibly lymphocytic thyroiditis.  He told me to follow up again in a year.  In the mean time, for the last several months I have had an enlarged lymph node and gland on the same side as the thyroid nodule.  It is always there, sometimes the gland goes down but the node always remains the same size. I still can't feel the nodule on my thyroid.  I think it may have been possible that the endo could have missed my nodule and biopsied my thyroid gland.  If this was the case and there is still a possibility of it being cancerous, would the nodule have grown enough for me to feal it in 8 months? And also as far as my lymph node, would it be typical for the gland next to it to swell and shrink and swell again? Also all of my labs tsh t3 t4 etc. were normal except the peroxidase ab were slightly elevated, only by 5 points.  Should I wait the full year for follow up or should i push to have this checked out now? Anybody have a similar experience or situation?

[ANOTHER1000]

Hi Krex,
Did you have any symptoms? was the nodulle ill defined or well defined on ultrasound?

[ANOTHER1000]

can i ask you about your labs?

[Barb135]

Do you have Hashimoto's?  I just posted on your other thread; maybe you could post your most recent lab results, with reference ranges, on that thread, so members can better assess your situation and possibly help you come up with solutions.

[Anniegoose]

swinging back and forth between hyper and hypo is NOT fun.  ::::sigh:::: i suppose i will get used to it one day.

[Barb135]

Are the T4 and T3 results you posted, for free or for total?  Total T3 and Total T4 are considered obsolete and of little value, so I do hope those are for the frees.

While your TSH is perfect and your T4 is good, your T3 is not even mid range.  

They TPOab at 40 says you have an autoimmune thyroid disease; most likely Hashimoto's, but without the TGab, that can't be confirmed.  When you get the TGab, you should also ask for TSI, which is the definitive test for Graves Disease.

It's not uncommon to swing between hyper and hypo, in the early stages of Hashi's.  I'm sure it's inflammation causing your thyroid to swell.  Many of us have nodules on our thyroid and most are nothing to worry about.  

Yes, I do have Hashi's; I also have multiple nodules on my thyroid; no, I don't have enlarged lymph nodes in my neck, except sometimes when I get ill.

[krex]

Yes my thyroid gland is enlarged but I am referring to my salivary gland and lymph node that is next to the salivary gland on the same side as my thyroid nodule that is enlarged.  I know 1cm is very small but that is the size in which my doctors decide to look into further wih biopsy. My lab results.....TSH 1.16, Reference range 0.40-4.50    T4 8.8, Reference range 4.5-12.0  T3 114, Reference range 76-181  Thyroid Peroxidase AB 40, Reference range 35.  I myself think that it may be the start of Hashimotos, my doctor disagrees. My next blood work isnt for another couple months, and i will push for the TGab.  I am symptomatic going back and forth between hypo and hyper, something is causing that,  something is causng my thyroid gland to enlarge and produce a nodule. Do you have hashis? do you have any enlarged lymph nodes in your neck?

[Barb135]

I don't understand your referral to "lymph node and gland"?  Are you referring to your thyroid gland?

Many of us with thyroid issues have nodules on our thyroid gland and they are nothing to worry about; however, since an FNA is usually not done on a nodule smaller than 2 cm (yours was only 1/2 that) you might want to seek another opinion.

Quick bit of research on lymphocytic thyroiditis:  "Silent thyroiditis is swelling (inflammation) of the thyroid gland, in which the person alternates between hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism."  

This is common with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis; have you been tested for thyroid antibodies?  You would need to get TPOab and TGab to diagnose Hashimoto's; and TSI to diagnose Graves Disease.

In addition, please post your most recent thyroid test results, with lab ranges that vary from lab to lab, so must come from your own report. Often, just being "in range" is not good enough....