Biopsy Results - Cancer or Not??

[newgirl729]

I had a biopsy done last week on a nodule on my thyroid.  I just got a copy of the pathology report & the diagnosis reads:

Suspicious for a follicular neoplasm, hurthle cell type (Bethesda Category IV).  Very cellular aspirate, few bland follicular follicles, abundant atypical Hurthle cells and pigmented macrophages.  Small amount of colloid noted.  The differential diagnosis is a hyperplastic nodule with prominent Hurthle cell metaplasia vs adenoma in a cystic background.  In general, well differentiated follicular carcinoma cannot be reliably detected or excluded based on cytomorphology alone.

The doctor said it could be cancer but it may not be.  Can anyone tell me exactly what this means?  I'm confused if there are cancerous cells but it's not cancer.
Thanks!!

[898_1]

The small amount of colloid is usually associated with neoplastic nodules; these nodules are benign if they fully encapsulated (this can be determined after removal). 20 % of these removed nodules are not fully encapsulated which means cancer.
In your particular case, second biopsy may be suggested to determine % of Hurtle cells in the sample and amount of colloid (lot of colloid = benign nodule).
Loose Hurtle cells which do not forming a sheet or structure  with pigmented macrophages are found among the patients who are having Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

[Justin1967]

I think if you doctor is confused on the results, how are we expected to know??