Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Ultrasound Report: Do I need surgery anyway?

Hi there:

I was wondering if someone could read my ultrasound report and give me their thoughts. I had a nuclear scan done of these nodules and all but one was cold. The largest one was a cold nodule and according to the report was 3.9 cm across.

I had FNA done on that nodule this morning. The doctor did not seem too concerned that it was malignant, but what worries me is that it seems larger nodules have a high rate of false negative on aspiration and turn out to be cancer later, or anyway.

My symptoms are subclinical hyperthyroidism that I have had for at least fifteen years -- although fifteen years ago an uptake scan showed no nodules and no irregular uptake.

My question is: if I have a multinodular goiter that is found to be "benign" on FNA can it still be cancer? I don't know if this is going to be the determination, I'm supposed to find out tomorrow afternoon.

HISTORY: Enlarged thyroid.


COMPARISON: None.


FINDINGS: The right lobe measures 5.7 x 2.7 x 2.6 cm and contains
multiple nodules.


Nodule 1: 3.9 x 2.3 x 2.4 cm. Lower pole. Mixed cystic and solid
composition. Ovoid. Heterogeneous echotexture. Internal vascularity.
No calcifications. Indeterminant, but likely benign.


Nodule 2 : 8 x 6 x 9 mm. Upper pole. Well-defined. Hypoechoic. No
vascularity. No calcifications. Cystic with solid components.
Indeterminant but likely benign.


The left lobe measures 5.7 x 1.6 x 1.7 cm and is normal in echotexture.


Nodule 3: A 9 x 8 x 6 mm. Upper pole. Internal vascularity. No
microcalcifications. Solid with cystic components. Indeterminant.


The isthmus it measures 5 mm in AP dimension.


Nodule 4: 1.1 x 0.4 x 0.5 cm. Solid with cystic components. Minimal
internal vascularity. Indeterminant.

Thanks!
8 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Yeah, it's interesting. I've read lots of posts from people who have had thyroidectomies and seem to really be thriving and happy once their levels are adjusted.

But there also seem to be quite a few people who are just miserable. So, you know, we're all striving for less miserable.
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
I'm happy to hear that your cyst is benign.  I hope that puts your mind to rest.

I've never seen the studies you mentioned, but I agree that it would be depressing to think one could never get well.  As one who has Hashimoto's, and whose thyroid no longer produces hormones, which makes me totally dependent on my replacement medications I can attest to the thought that we CAN get well on T4 medication.  Some us, however, do have to add a source of T3, such as cytomel or generic liothyronine.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
:). Thank you very much for your reply. The biopsy did come out benign with no features of cancer. The nurse who gave me these results told me it was just a cyst.

I am happy to hear that people who have had a thyroidectomy do not have a lower quality of life in general. It was just some studies I found at PubMed. It would really be a shame if they held true across the boards because that would make it a serious lose/lose. Depressing.
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
It's not true that people who have their thyroid taken out have lower quality of life. Having a thyroid removed is equivalent to those of us with Hashimoto's, whose thyroids have stopped working.  If you have a good doctor who will adjust medication properly, quality of life does not have to change. If people have a lower quality of life, it's simply because their doctors aren't treating them adequately.

You would probably have to have it checked periodically, to make sure the characteristics aren't changing.

Thyroid cancer is relatively rare. If your doctor is unable to determine that it's cancer s/he may recommend removal.

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I don't want it removed at all; I had no idea I had a goiter or that it could be cancerous or anything like this a couple weeks ago.

The thing is I'm worried about insurance. I have insurance now but it's COBRA, and I'm not really sure how long I'll be able to keep paying it. So hearing it's benign is great news unless..it's really not benign and I have to keep going back to make sure.

I'm not sure how much I am reading on the internet is correct. People who have their thyroids taken out were found to have lower quality of lifein a couple studies; and there was a study that said a large goiter had a high risk of being found to be falsely benign in FNA.

I was wondering if anyone knew of other studies with different numbers, or felt that they could trust their own diagnoses. Etc.
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
You know that if your thyroid is removed, you will be permanently hypothyroid and will have to take replacement hormones for the rest of your life.

If it's inconclusive, you can talk to your doctor about having it removed, anyway, in order to ease your mind.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for your reply!

I don't have graves disease or hashimotos. I've been subclinically hyperthyroid for at least thirteen years, which was the last time I was tested for nodules. I didn't have any back then but I was always slightly hyperthyroid.

The doctor told me basically not to worry about it back then and get tested if the hyperthyroid got worse. It never has.

I'm just worried that even if it is benign, it will still continue to be a worry; that it can turn into cancer; is cancer already and they can't tell for sure.
Helpful - 0
649848 tn?1534633700
COMMUNITY LEADER
The final decision will have to be between you and your doctor; however, if the nodules are benign, there would be no cancer.

You don't have Graves Disease?  Have you ever been tested for Hashimoto's?
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Thyroid Disorders Community

Top Thyroid Answerers
649848 tn?1534633700
FL
Avatar universal
MI
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
We tapped the CDC for information on what you need to know about radiation exposure
Endocrinologist Mark Lupo, MD, answers 10 questions about thyroid disorders and how to treat them
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.