Nodules and Biopsy Question

[jenbaj]

Hi,

I was diagnosed with hashimotos approx 7 years ago (no official ultrasound, just by TSH), while undergoing treatment for infertility.  Since then I have been on Synthroid with my max current dose of 75 mcg/day.  My TSH runs about 2.

Since then I have TSH checked approx every 6 months.

About 4 months ago I started to have some neck pain and felt a lump (which incidentally, the lump is not where my thyroid nodule is).  I went for initial ultrasound which noted that I had too many nodules to count on both sides of my thyroid.  I followed up with an ENT who could not find anything and said that I should wait 6 months and come back.  SInce I have some pain/discomfort, I followed up with an ENDO.  She did another ultrasound and saw the many nodules, but also saw a bigger nodule approx 1.2 cm.  I went in last Thurs. for a biopsy of this nodule, and while there, she found another which was 1.8 cm.

I also had an MRI (not for my thyroid, but for my neck lymph node where my pain is) and it was negative.

I just received the call that the biopsy is negative.  She said that I have many lymphocytes which confirms the Hashimotos.  With blood test, I do not have any antibodies.  I asked her about T3 and T4 testing and she said that TSH is the only one she cares about.  The endo said to get another ultrasound in 2 years.

I asked her about the pain and she said if it is too painful, I have the choice of getting a thyroidectomy.  She said that she has seen one case of a woman with excrutiating pain, who had neg biopsy, but had lymphoma diagnosis upon thyroidectomy.

Here is my question:

How accurate is the biopsy that i can wait 2 years to be reassesed?  I am hearing of several cases of a false negative biopsy  and this worries me.  I mean why is it that it took 3 ultrasounds to find these nodules anyway?  If I had stopped with the first one, I wouldnt even know that I have these nodules.

I think that I will go for a second opinion.  Does anyone out there have any advice or a similar situation?

[898_1]

Many doctors recommend to use antiinflammatory painkillers to releive the pain and reduce inflammation. The ultrasound should be repated witin 6 months, if nodules are growing rapidly and show changes, then surgery can be an option.

[blsdnsvd]

I had a TT due to a multi-nodular goiter where cancer could not be ruled out by biopsy. I had a total of 3 biopsies and they all were negative but due to the abnormal cells that were in the nodule (follicular and hurthle), i was told to get it out. My pathology report was also benign. In these cases, it is best to get it removed in the event that something comes up in the future. I am relieved that i do not have to get a biopsy every six months.  

There are cases where the biopsy reads negative and the pathology reads positive, which is why the fna is not 100% accurate. You may hear from some people on this site who experienced this as well.

My advice is to get at least three opinions and go from there.

[gimel]

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