A related discussion,
thyroid nodule was started.
Thank you for your suggestion - I was considering your thoughts on the wait and see approach very strongly - I have just had so many opinions - my head was absolutely spinning with which way to go. I have an MD appointment April 10. I will discuss this with him. Thank you also for giving me hope in the minimally invasive endo surgery, I didn't know that could be an option here. I have read about it and found it very interesting.
Do you know where I may obtain information on this type of treatment/surgery? I live in Wisconsin and have Froedert University Hospitol - I am very close to the Chicago University Hospitol also. Or an endo that may be able to follow this protocol?
Thank you
Hi,
The nodule is not very big and the description does not give many characteristics usually associated with malignancies HOWEVER that does not specifically mean it is 100% surely benign. I doubt that this little nodule is the cause of your symptoms besides the feeling of something stuck in your throat, and assuming that your thyroid tests are in the optimal range. Based on the difficulties with sampling, most endocrinologists would suggest doing another US in 3-6 months to see if the size or characteristics of the nodule change. If they do, then a repeat biopsy or removal should be considered(in your case, you may want to see if an ENT can do this with minimally invasive endoscopic surgery, which is certainly gentler on you than full scale thyroid surgery). Then you will have the nodule gone, and have the pathology to tell you for sure if this was malignant or not.
The easiest way to find out if your own thyroid is still functioning is to slowly decrease your dose of replacement thyroid and see if your own gland kicks in on its own.
I think that while you decide which way to go regarding the nodule, you should consider speaking with a rheumatologist or neurologist about your other symptoms to see if another cause can be found.
Take care.
Also the US from the FNA stated by the radiologist that:
the nodule was posterior to the lower left bed adjacent to the cortide artery.
Could this nodule be the cause of my constant mild achey headache (only left side), slight dizzyness, inflammation/stiffness of left back of neck and left chest/arm pit achey pain. I have had these symptoms for 2 yrs constantly and every physician I have seen have no explaination.
I have made a typo on the year the first ultra sound was done it was February 2008 not 2007 - my apologies.