thyroid nodule found

[JodiNeu]

About a year ago I went to my endocrinologist for a checkup (i am insulin resistant).  She noticed that my thyroid felt a little "full." She recommended I have a UC, but at that time my daughter was sick in the hospital so I was unable to go.  A year later I had another checkup and after feeling my neck she didn't say anything about my thyroid until she saw in my chart that I never went to get the UC and suggested that I do.
The UC tech said she saw a small nosule "with solid and fluid."
The radiologist reported to my endo who told me that it was 7mm, with possible microcalcifications.  She wasn't happy to hear about the radiology center that I used and said that she'd rather me go to the one she uses the most as they can be more precise about whether it truly is microcals or not....
So my doc said to get a repeat UC at the different place in 2-3 months, that way she can see if its grown at all as well.

I am 32 and my mother and aunt both have underactive thyroids and are in their 60's....my thyroid blood work has always been normal.

Am I jumping the gun in thinking I have cancer? Is my endo doing the right thing with this? She is very reknown in my area and is pretty thorough.  Do a lot of UC readers mistake things for calcifications? If it is gd forbid cancer.....what is the prognosis based on the size, etc?

I appreciate your take on this.......
jodi

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

repeating it at a different place in 2-3 months is not likely to resolve the dilemma in determining microcalcification vs comet tail artifact (which is the common problem) -- this should be done by the doctor in the office in "real-time" and not by a tech taking still images for a radiologist to read.

However, the 7mm size suggests that observation is reasonable unless there is a high-risk history of cancer in the family or high-dose radiation exposure to your neck

[JodiNeu]

but is it ok to wait 2-3 months like she said?

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Sometimes it's hard to determine microcalcifications vs other findings on ultrasound -- this is why we recommend patients with nodules to see an endocrinologist who does his/her own ultrasound.  When in doubt - assume it's a calcification and go ahead with biopsy.  Most (>90%) of nodules are not cancer, even if it is the prognosis is excellent in most cases.

[JodiNeu]

let me correct myself as i meant US ultrasound....sorry