Mostly Cystic Nodule.........

[ChrisCho]

Hi everyone - Brand new to the boards.

I'm a 37 year old male with a fully active anxiety disorder, which is why I'm here to ask questions as I await by biopsy results.

Here's the story.

October of 2005 an "incidentaloma" was found during a CT scan of my head and neck.
November of 2011 I had an ultrasound of my neck - Results:
A 5mm thyroid nodule with mixed echogenic characteristics probably representing an adenoma on the left side. Smaller nodules are seen on the right. The Thyroid echogenicity is normal, and there is no thyromegaly. (this summary didn't include the fact that the nodule was within a >1cm cystic structure.

November of 2008 I had a follow up ultrasound of my neck - Results:
There is a 5mm nodular component within a cystic structure in the mid left lobe of the thyroid. The solid component is not significantly changed in volume from November 2005. Cystic surrounding area is slightly larger now.

Just this past weekend i started to feel a pain in my neck. Sunday morning I decided to feel where the pain was and was startled to feel a huge lump. I had never felt the cyst before. My wife insists that during a routine wrestling match, my wife and son against me, that they had really been messing with my neck and they probably were the cause. Anyway - I had an ultrasound on Monday and here are the results:

The left lobe demonstrates a complex, predominantly cystic nodule at the lower pole measuring 2.6 cm in maximal dimensions. Internal debris and possible mural based solid component are identified. (everything else was ok)

It said that based on SRU criteria, fine needle aspiration is advised.

I'm worried that this is cancer. I can't focus on anything else.
Does anyone have any thoughts...comments?

[ChrisCho]

Hi All - In case anyone was following this. My biopsy came back completely normal.

[MANmom]

Maybe for a cystic nodule, but all of mine were solid except on that was mixed, they did the FNA on the biggest one which was, it was 2.1 cm, but my sister after my diagnosis had her .8mm nodule biopsied and she had cancer, too.  You should have results after 1 week.  Good luck.

[ChrisCho]

Hey thanks for the reply. From what I understand the SRU guidelines for the makeup of my nodule was >2cm before they advise an FNA.

The FNA was done on Tuesday. I'm just having a difficult time waiting for the results.

Thanks for your words of encouragement.

[MANmom]

Have the FNA, you couldn't have one until it got up to 1 cm, so now is the time.  I warn you, however, that it may not tell you much.  It may be inconclusive, which about 40% of the time it is.  You should keep a good watch on it if you get a benign result you just need to check it every 6 months.  If it is causing you trouble or pain, then you may consider having that half of your thyroid removed, then they can check it for cancer by sending it to a pathologist.  Most of the time, cancerous nodules are solid, have calcifications or irregular borders, and are vascular, sounds like yours is none of these, so don't worry too much...I know, it is hard to relax, but it doesn't have any of the indications of cancer.  Keep in mind, however, that it is very hard to tell from an ultrasound.