Treatments Thyroid nodules

[Gailadams]

Female/40 years old.

Thank you for your time.

What would you recommend for a patient with a left side thyroid nodule with measurements
1 year ago of left nodule 24.3 x 12.8 mm and right nodule 7.4 x 6.4.  Current new measurements from
recent ultrasound left 24.3 x 25mm and right 7.7 x 7.3.  Monitoring now of 4 years with a recent
benign FNB result also with normal thyroid levels.

Is the progressive growth something I need to be concerned about?

Thank you!

[Vivek V Gurudutt, MD]

It is good that you are following the thyroid lesions and have had a fine needle aspiration.  Any lesion over 1 cm in size needs close scrutiny.  Sometimes the needle biopsy is not specific enough or may not "hit" the proper area for the proper diagnosis.   Some physicians advocate serial ultrasounds and follow up, while others may advocate removal of the involved thyroid for definitive diagnosis or if there is higher risk or equivocal fna findings.  Anytime there is increase in size of a lesion, there is concern.  Your benign FNA is helpful, but you should be followed closely by your ent or endocrinologist.  

[slappy75]

A related discussion, Growing thyroid nodule was started.

[Gailadams]

Thank you for your recommendations.  My ENT has recommended a complete removal
of the entire thyroid gland due to both the left and right side with nodules.
The left have the larger one and the right having two smaller ones.

Would you recommended a total removal? Why or Why not?

What are the risk of the surgery?

Thanks!
Gail Adams