really scared

[MMKK37]

I have hashimoto's and I was diagnoses in the summer of 2001. When living in Tx. My endo would do an ultrasound when I went in because I have a nodule on my thyroid. Lately I have been suffering from a hoarse voice and my new endo in our ne state we live in ordered a ultrasound last week. I went and have now been told I need to have  a FNA. Is this usually just to rule cancer out, I guess what I mean is do most people with nodules gwet and FNA? Also, can benign nodules cause hoarseness and feeking of fullness in throat? My thyroid levels were normal when they checked them.

[MMKK37]

I am going to pick up mu report from the hospital right now. Check on this in a little while, I will post the report.

[Dnmh]

Yes, it's most likely because of it's size. It is relatively small - if you read through the posts here, you will see that some have much larger ones and even they are benign.
If nothing else remember - less than 5% of nodules are cancer. And for those that are - thyroid cancers are one of the most treatable.
Funny you mention that about the sonographer! I just had my second ultrasound (first one was Mar 07) and I know the tech saw something. First she asked me if I had an overactive thyroid, I told her it was possible Hashimoto's, and a few minutes later she asked "When was your FNA?" We discussed my first ultrasound, the size of my largest nodule, how many I had in March (6) and the FNA being non-specific when I first walked into the room. Just because she asked those questions, I know she saw something. I've had many, many tests and you know when it's nothing or something. I'm trying my hardest to wait the week out before I call the doc's office!

If you're still really concerned, you could ask your doctor what it is about the nodule that made him decide to do an FNA.

[MMKK37]

All I got from the Docotor was the script to have it done and the letter telling me there is one on left and one on right. The one on the right is bigger so that is the one they ared oing the biopsy on. It was funny, when I had the ultrasounf the tech afterwards said we will see you when you are due for your next ulttrasound. She didn't act strange at all, I have had ultrasounds for other things when the outcome isn't good and you can read it on the tech's face. My doctor kept saying on the phone that it was small, could they just be doing it because of the size?

[Dnmh]

Being palapable doesn't mean it's solid. As 898 mentioned above it could be scarring, it could be a cyst, it could be part solid/part cyst or solid. Did you ever get that copy of your ultrasound report? There are certain characteristics of the different nodules that would be indicated on that report that helps your doctor make the determination to do an FNA.

[MMKK37]

My doctor was able to feel the one that I have. Does that mean it is solid?

[898]

Also the localized inflammed areas commonly found during the thyroiditis, appearing on the ultrasound similar to nodules [thus, they called pseudo-nodules] and commonly confused with real solid nodules; these pseudo nodules can disappear and not palpable compared to the real solid  nodules.