Is it possible for a benign nodule that's grown to become cancerous?

[LeahFriss]

Bethesda diagnostic category 2:

[Barb135]

Having other conditions don't change the fact that the Bethesda Category II indicates benign nodule.

The fact that you have other autoimmune conditions (if you have type I diabetes) makes it more likely that you have Hashimoto's.  Having more than one autoimmune condition is very common and once we have one autoimmune,chances are pretty great that we will get another, at some point.

Please let me know how your appointment turns out.

[LeahFriss]

Hi there... all is well, next follow up in a year.  Thanks for answering my questions and helping to ease my worries.

[Barb135]

I'm happy to hear that all is well.  It's easy to get scared of things we aren't familiar with and medical terms can sound so daunting... I have a nodule that's grown to almost twice its size in recent weeks and it can be scary.  I wish all imaging facilities would go to something like the Bethesda rating system, because it's more comforting to look at that and know a nodule isn't cancer.  I'm, also, happy to have been able to ease your worries.

[Barb135]

Bethesda Category II indicates benign nodules, subacute thyroiditis and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune condition, in which the body, erroneously identifies the thyroid as foreign and produces antibodies to destroy it.

The destruction of Hashimoto's can take many years to complete, but as it progresses, the thyroid produces less and less of the hormones the body needs to perform certain functions, such as metabolism, body temperature, heart rate, etc.

The test result you posted above appears to be a TSH result.  TSH is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, which is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland.  Its purpose is stimulate the thyroid to produce thyroid hormones.  Your TSH level was normal in February, but that doesn't necessarily mean it is now, or that your actual thyroid hormone levels are normal.  You need to ask your doctor to test those, as well.  The hormone tests you need are Free T4 and Free T3.  

Typically, as thyroid hormones decrease, TSH increases as the pituitary gland continues to try to stimulate the thyroid by producing more TSH.

The antibody tests you need are Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TgAb).

I hope this helps  you understand a little better.  Please let me know if you have further questions and how your ultrasound goes on Monday

[LeahFriss]

I also just thought of something else that makes me a bit worried.  I am diabetic and also have tumid lupus so I'm wondering if these 2 things put me at a higher risk of the nodule becoming cancerous?  I have my appointment in a few hours, but that just crossed my mind.

[Barb135]

The report, clearly, states "benign colloid nodule".  Did you have the FNA, and if so, what was the result?

Have you ever had blood tests for antibodies to determine if you have Hashimoto's, as the ultrasound indicates?  If so, what were the results of those blood tests?  

Have you had other blood tests to determine thyroid function?  If so, please post the results of those tests, with their reference ranges.  

Benign nodules are very common with Hashimoto's and/or hypothyroidism.  It's not unusual for nodules to swell (appear to get larger) with autoimmune reaction when one has Hashimoto's.  This "growth"/swelling is not an indication of cancer.

[LeahFriss]

I did have an FNA, those are the results.  he did 5 passes.  I haven't had other blood tests, just the 2  ultrasounds and the FNA.  I'm having the ultrasound repeated as a follow up this coming Monday.   You mentioned Hashimoto's that it was indicated.  what is that and I didn't see that in what I posted.

[LeahFriss]

this is the blood test back in February 2017

2.330 mclU/ml

Date:
    Feb 10, 2017 03:18 p.m. EST

Reference Range:
    0.358 mclU/ml - 3.740 mclU/ml

[LeahFriss]

This is part of the report:

Adequacy:
Satisfactory for Evaluation.
Bethesda diagnostic category 2:
Benign.
Description / Interpretation:
Groups of follicular cells with mixed macro/microfollicular pattern, colloid material and
macrophages consistent with hyperplastic nodule (benign colloid nodule).  It was 1.8 cm isoechoic. Right thyroid nodule.

It seems to have grown, to me anyway.  I have my follow up on Monday for another ultrasound.

[Barb135]

Category II is benign; consistent with Hashimoto's or subacute thyroiditis.  These nodules can grow, but growth doesn't mean they become cancerous.

Hashimoto's is an autoimmune thyroid condition in which the body determines that the thyroid is foreign and produces antibodies to destroy it.

Can you give us more information about your condition and why you might think you have thyroid cancer?  

If you have any lab results you can post, we'd be more than happy to take a look and tell you what they mean.  Be sure to include reference ranges with all results as ranges vary from lab to lab and have to come from your own reports.

[LeahFriss]

This is from the original when the nodule was discovered.

FINDINGS:  
Isthmus size: 0.3 cm.    
Right thyroid lobe size: 2.1 x 2.1 x 4.9 cm.    
Left thyroid lobe size: 1.1 x 1.4 x 4.5 cm.  
There is a large solid 1.8 x 1.3 x 1.3 cm isoechoic nodule to thyroid parenchyma  
in the RIGHT thyroid lobe. There is peripheral/rim vascularity without internal  
hypervascularity.    
Other: No abnormal cervical lymph nodes.    
IMPRESSION:    
1. Solid isoechoic nodule in the RIGHT thyroid lobe. Consider endocrinology  
referral and possible tissue sampling by FNA as clinically indicated (unless  
this is already been performed).