ask: I have Hashimoto's Disease. I have a thyroid nodule that was biopsied last year & was fine; it has grown over the year. Why would my endocrinologist not biopsy it right away?
Here's my whole story. I have Hashimoto's Disease -- no big deal. I take .25 mcg of synthroid daily and my levels are perfectly normal. I also have nodules on my thyroid -- something I believe is very common with Hashimoto's. Can you confirm this? I am told these nodules can come and go. I have an annual ultrsound. Last year I had all nodules biopsied. They were all benign. I just had my annual ultrasound. One of the nodules from last year didn't even show up, but a nodule on the left side has grown. My endocrinologist said to wait for four months and then do an ultrasound again. If it grows, she said my thyroid would need to come out because it was probably cancer. However, she has no plans of doing a biopsy in 4 months because she said that the biopsy if benign might not be correct. Is this right? I could undergo a surgery without even needing it. And if the nodule is benigh, why can't you just take it our -- not the whole thyroid? I'm very scared. Please help.
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Hi,
I'm sorry you are scared...let's see if we can find you some information.
I can answer one question, that yes, according to MedlinePlus, "Thyroid nodules are found in Hashimoto's disease", since you asked for us to confirm this for you.
I am unsure about your second question, that if your underwent a biopsy within the next 4 months, and the test is benign, that this may be a false reading.
Your other question, that if the nodule is benign, you are asking if they can just take out the benign nodule (and not the entire thyroid). From my understanding, surgery is only recommended if the nodule is either cancerous, overactive, is undiagnosed or is causing symptoms. I assume that undergoing surgery for a benign nodule that is not causing any symptoms would be more of a risk than leaving it alone.
Did I understand your questions correctly? If so, I will ask one of our medical experts to provide more insight into your specific question.
Here are a few resources for you from EmpowHer, while we wait for a specialist to answer your question:
March 8, 2009 - 7:08pm- Why a General Endocrinologist Should Not Be Your Thyroid Doctor.
- Hashimoto Disease explained by Dr. Friedman.
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I think you might do well to go ahead and get a second opinion. I have a nodule on my thyroid as well, and was diagonosed with Hashimoto's...but my doctor is just taking out the nodule and the isthmus (which, with the swelling, is causing some scarring))...I hope you don't have to lose your whole thyroid. Prayers going out to you in Jesus' Name!
May 13, 2010 - 7:54pmI had a nodule on my thyroid that was detected 2 years ago. We have had a biopsy which was indeterminate. The nodule is growing and my doctor has given me the choice of another biopsy or surgical removal. I don't know what to do if the biopsy still says indeterminate there is still this nodule growing. I have no pain, but i am really fatigued and seems to get more colds than the average person. For more information you can visit :
http://www.allmothers.net/unexplained-infertility.html
June 18, 2010 - 4:45amMy father in law had a nodule that later turned out to be Anaplastic Thyroid cancer - he died a year and half later. His results were inderminate as well initially. No my wife and her brother have been diagnosed with Papillary Thyroid cancer ....... and both of their doctors said their Dad's probably started out as treatable Papillary and went to Anaplastic.
Get the Thyroid removed - or at least have a second opinion done. Some doctors don't realize the risks or cater to folks who don't like surgery. Believe me taking Synthroid is no big deal compared to what he went through with the cancer.
October 29, 2010 - 12:10pm