No lymph nodes found in path report after TT

[Carydid]

I had a TT in January 2017 due to papillary thyroid cancer. My surgeon said he would also take out lymph nodes and check for spread of cancer. When the path report came back, no lymph nodes were present. He'd taken out extra thyroid tissue and sections of parathyroid glands instead of lymph nodes. Is this normal?! Surgeon says it doesn't matter--that RAI will solve problem if lymph nodes are involved. Is this something that happens often? I've searched online and haven't found anything like this situation. Surgeon is unreachable now.

[Barb135]

I'm not that familiar with pathology reports or TT, lymph nodes, etc, but if the surgeon doesn't want to talk to you, it would seem like there might be some reason he's avoiding you.  You might try calling the pathology lab and see what they have to say.  Also, be sure to talk to the doctor that will be treating your hypothyroidism now that you have no thyroid.

If parathyroid glands (or parts of them) were removed, you're going to need calcium levels watched very closely and possibly have to take special calcium - did someone tell you that?

[Carydid]

Thanks for your comment. Yes, the surgeon told me to take 1000 mg a day of calcium. I read a new comment on my path report that says 2 parathyroids were taken out. I've read lots of comments online re: thyroid cancer, but nothing yet about more than the thyroid being taken out "by accident".