Thyroid test results and no definite answers

[cuch5]

I am a 39 year old female mother of 4.
After my 4th child my TSH rose to 5.98 (in 6/02)and I had may symptoms, but doctor missed the high TSH and I never asked to see blood results myself
I went undiagnosed until fall 2004 (had symptoms all along) since then I have gone down as the medicine was increased. My last results where as follows
On 75 MCG synthroid

TSH                      1.84
T4 total                 4.6
Thyroid peroxidase AB    225
Thyroglobulin AB         25.4

I am now seeing a Ent along with a endo because my voice is hoarse.  The Ent had a ultrasound repeated from 6/05 these are the results  Right Lobe 5.2cm X 2.6cm X 2.6cm. left lobe 4.7cm X 2.3cm X 2.3cm thyroid isthmus 4mm.  There is a focal hypoechoic area in the inferior aspect of right lobe consistent with a nodule which measures 1.3cm X 7mm X 1.1cm.  This does not seem to have changed in the year.  I was sent to the Ent for hoarseness which he thinks is unrelated. But now suggested a needle aspiration of the nodule.  Is this neccesary? Is thyroid very enlarged?

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Thyroid is moderately enlarged (about 1.5-2x normal).  My guess is the "nodule" is an area of marked inflammation from hashimotos, but the only way to document that is a biopsy -- would go ahead with this -- must be under ultrasound guidance.

[GravesLady]

What I understand from what I have read, all lumps or nodules in the thyroid gland have to be investigated one way or another. Nodules are biopsied if they show active growth or are unusually large, hoarseness and/or change of voice, etc. and helps determine which kind of nodule you have. Thyroid Needle Biopsy has become the most reliable test and  provides information that no other thyroid test will provide, and, it will provide definitive information in 75% of the nodules biopsied.  Better to be safe with test done now than to be sorry later.

[Bananie22]

Just to add one more thing...don't work yourself up over the biopsy (as far as the procedure goes).  I did and it ended up being so not worth all the worry and anxiety I gave it...so if you need it done, please don't do what I did to myself (if you can help it).  Just my two cents!