Had Nuclear Scan - Scared to Death

[ChristineB50]

Hi,

Long story short but a MRI of my neck (for a different problem) led to an ultrasound of my thyroid which led to a nuclear scan of my thyroid.  Got a copy of the results at my doc's office but he didn't even make an appt. to discuss these findings with me just referred me to an endo and I can't see him for a month.  I'm scared that this all means that I have cancer.  If anyone can calm my fears at all, it would be a wonderful thing as I am freaking out here.

The nuclear scan reads:  

FINDINGS:  Six hour uptake is 29% and a twenty-four hour uptake was 50%.  The normal range is 7-21 for six hours and 10-35% for 24 hours.  

Both lower lobes show focal areas of increased activity and there is relative photopenic area in the right mid lateral aspec, and also in the left lateral aspect.

CONCLUSION:

Abnormal increase uptake consistent with hyperthyroid state, correlate with in vitro T4-T3 levels.  Scan consistent with multi-nodular goiter.  Both hot and cold nodules were demonstrated.  Hot nodules in both lower lobes and cold nodules in the mid lateral aspect of the right and left lobe.

I've done some research and cold nodules are not good.  From what I read, they carry a 10-15% risk of cancer (is that correct?).  Some of the other risk factors of cancer, which I have, are "presence of cervical lymphadenopathy (swollen hard lymph nodes in the neck)" and presence of "complex nodules on ultrasound".  Both my doc and the endo have been telling me for about 3 years that I have hard swollen lymph nodes in my neck but they both fluffed them off.  

Thanks for any advise you can give.

ChristineB50

[898]

Complex nodule needs to be bipsed the first hand

[898]

Multinodular longstanding goiter is usually non cancerous; hot nodules suggesting multinodular toxic goiter; if the cold nodules are larger then 1 cm they can be biopsed.