Thyroid Ultrasound Findings

[hollysmom115]

Ok I'm driving myself crazy with research on my thyroid nodule.  I have had a FNA & ultrasound.  I am waiting for the FNA results (its making me crazy waiting) but here is what my ultrasound report said - any input?

Enlarged thyroid gland.  2.9 x 1.3 x 1.9cm complex cystic mass of the mid to lower pole ofthe right lobe.  It contains thick internal septations which are vascular, multiple punctate microcalcifications are present.  

Does any of that mean anything bad?

[Barb135]

Don't settle for TSH testing only; TSH is a pituitary hormone that can vary widely, for a variety of reasons; thyroid conditions should not be diagnosed or treated, solely on the basis of a TSH test.

I'd strongly recommend that you ask for Free T3 and Free T4 tests.  Those are the biologically active thyroid hormones, with Free T3 being most important.  I'd also recommend that you ask for antibody tests to see if you have either Graves Disease or Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.  Both are autoimmune diseases, in which the body sees the thyroid as a foreign object and produces antibodies to destroy it.  This destruction process can wreak havoc.

[hollysmom115]

Thanks for all the information.  I couldn't take it anymore so I called he Dr. this morning, the nurse told me the Dr. said everything seemed fine (thought that was an odd way to tell someone about there Biopsy) anyhoo but he wants to see me for a follow-up and could I come in Monday morning, which I am at 9:40.  Maybe you or someone else might have some input let me back up a little.   I am by no means a Dr. person not that I don't like them just never had much of a reason to go until recently.  I started having heart palpitations almost daily along with major heartburn, so I scheduled an appointment with the family Dr. because I was deathly afraid there was something wrong with my heart.  He listened, did and ekg - both good and was sending me for bloodwork.  Upon examining me for a full physical he found the nodule and recommended an ultra sound he also put TSH testing on the bloodwork.  Fast forward - bloodwork came back great for everything, ultrasound was above, and Dr. recommend me to see an ENT.  ENT sent me for  FNA which seems ok lol (I will get the full report Monday).  My question is are there any other thyroid blood tests I should be sent for?  Now normally if the Dr.s say I'm ok I would just be fine with that and ignore all the little odd symptoms, but something just doesn't feel right - i know my body and its just off.  I get heart palpitations, neck and shoulder pain, much less active then normal but with 3 kids being blah really isn't an option so I put on a smile and go with the flow although I'm not really into it.  

Any thoughts or suggestions researching this stuff is making my head spin. lol

[MANmom]

I know how you feel, there is a lot of gray area in thyroid diagnosis.  Microcalcifications are a concern, those are usually cancerous, but not always.  The vascularity is also a concern, cancer need a blood flow to survive, so vascularity means there is blood flow within the nodule.  Your chances of cancer right now are probably 15 - 20%.  In terms of "bad", yes, if it is cancer it is bad, but on the scale of "bad cancers", thyroid cancer is almost 100% curable.  That is good.  I had four nodules, the complex cystic one was much like yours although not as big.  The others were solid and round.  All had cancer, but the cystic one had the largest tumor.  Get the FNA results, they may or may not tell you if it is cancer, (mine did not) but you will probably have to have it romoved.  Sometimes like in my case, they must remove the nodule to really find out what it is...and yes, I was crazy for about 9 months.