Testing Method

[AngelaKay77]

I have had a lump growing in my neck for about 8 weeks and finally went to the doctor about it.  My GP sent me to get an ultrasound done and it came back as a complex solid nodule with insinuating cystic components on the left side.  My doctor wants me to get a thyroid scan done this week.  I've been doing a lot of reading on the internet and it seems that I should be having a FNA done instead.  All I want to know is if it is cancer or not ASAP, for anxiety reasons above all else I just want to get to the bottom of what is going on.  Should I insist on going straight for the FNA first instead of having the scan done?  


This discussion is related to Complex Nodules.

[AngelaKay77]

Thanks for all the comments.  I am actually following my gut, for some reason I had a strong urge to skip the scan and go straight for an FNA and finally got my doctor to give me a referal.  The only problem is the next appointment isn't for another 6 weeks and it is about to drive me insane.  I feel like I'm holding my breath and have my whole life on hold waiting.  I am thinking about calling around and finding another doctor that could get me in sooner even if I have to go out of town for a doctor.  In the mean time I am trying to calm my nerves by researching as much as I can.  That is scary though that you can have an ok biopsy and still have cancerious places.  I would appreciate anything anyone has to say, good or bad all the information is very usefull to me, if for no other reason than to keep my head in the right place as far as expectations of this whole thing goes.  I am a natural over worrier.

[CatieC]

When my GP found my nodule she sent me for an ultrasound and an FNA. She skipped the scan because she knew how anxious I was.

However, some FNA's are inconclusive. My was and I needed to have a partial thyroidectomy. Luckily the nodule was benign.

[dscoochie]

Remember that people who have benign nodules, probably dont post as much as those with malignant ones, so that may be part of the reason that you read a lot more about cancerous nodules.  

Also, I had an FNA that said the chance of cancer was about 10% - however it came back cancer - so FNAs are also not 100%.

I would suggest a scan AND an FNA and then discussion with an ENDO that you trust, and of course following your own gut instinct.  I myself could not patiently wait for another FNA 6 months down the road, and am so thankful that I followed my gut and wanted the nodule out!

Good luck.

[4lynnie]

I had two uptake scans, both showing a large, cold nodule.   The FNA confirmed it was not cancer.   Blood tests continued to be normal, but I didn't feel "right."   Many doctors later and 1 year after last scan I had an ultrasound, and it showed more than a dozen nodules.   Based on the ultrasound my thyroid was removed;  it looked okay during surgery, but pathology found 2 cancer spots - and not one of the nodules were cancer.   I'm finding out that there are no "black and white" answers for anyone's thryoid.

[AngelaKay77]

Thanks for the reply.  I've read about the iodine uptake test and what all is involved.  My biggest concern is finding out if it is cancerous or not and it sounds like the thyroid scan is not conclusive so my thoughts are to cut to the chase and go to where I will get real answers and get a biopsy.    I seem to be feeling worse everyday and just want some real answers, the anxiety is killing me.  I'm 31 years old and have run into precancerous conditions in my cervix and colon already so I am very anxious to know what is going on.  I'm wondering who out there has had positive results from a lump turning out to be ok and who has had a lump be cancerous.  I've read that 95% of nodules are not cancerous but I seem to only hear about the ones that are so it makes that 95% hard to believe.  

[898]

The iodine uptake test could be done to determine if nodules are not "cold"; if they are "cold" then biopsy needs to be done; the ultrasound report details about the nodule size, echogenicity and doppler color flow would be extremely helpful.