My FNA result

[scrltrs]

My result came back and the doctor told me that I have a Athypical Folicular Epithelium diagnosis....he will remove half of my Thyroid at this time, but he also stated that maybe he will have to remove everything if the result come back positive.. what this diagnosis mean?

[scrltrs]

Thank you very much!!! I will be in touch!!!

[tired66]

Hello,
I don't have any help or advice, but I read your post, and I just want to wish you lots of luck.  

[898]

These cells  are suggestive of cancer but are NOT cancer cells.
Sometimes this means that the cancerous growth can be found outside, next to the large nodule but can be small enough to be missed by the ultrasound.
If these atypical cells are making up more then 30% of the sample , all removed tissue should be studied for presence of cancerous cells.

[MANmom]

It means that they cannot tell if you have cancer or not until they take out half of your thyroid and do a full biopsy on it.  The atypical cells are of concern.  I had a similar FNA report, but even though mine came back as "benign follicular clusters", they still could not tell me if it was cancer.  I was having difficulties swallowing and getting hoarse, for me as a singer, I needed to clear this.  Well, after half came out they did find incidental papillary microcarcinoma, so the other side came out this tuesday.  You can probably still function on half a thyroid.  I have Hashimoto's, my body was destroying my thyroid anyway, so eventually I would not have had thyroid function.  Taking out the rest of my thyroid was a no brainer, when I get the final pathology report I will then decide on RAI treatment.  But my cancer was found very early...Stage 1, no tumors were over 2 mm, so my prognosis is excellent.  Good luck, you have a decision to make.