Expert: Karen Brawner - 12/17/2005

Question
Hello, I am a 37 year old female.
Last year I was diagnosed with having thyroid nodules. I am to go back once a year for ultrasounds. My blood work came back fine last year. I had blood work again this year but don't have the results yet. Now I am having more symptoms. I feel like I have a huge lump in my throat when I swallow, and when I lift my head back and swallow, I can see my thyroid. Is this normal? It looks a little bigger on the right side. I am going to have another ultrasound next week. Since I have developed this sensation of a lump in my throat, does this mean that the nodule has grown larger? This feeling came on pretty suddenly. Also, what are the chances that a noldule will turn to cancer? There is no thyroid problems in my family at all. As far as I know, I am the only person to ever have thyroid problems. Thank you for any help that you can give me. Sandra

Answer
Dear Sandra,  I had the same symptom with my complex cyst on my right thyroid gland and the isthmus....  I even choaked on my own salava at times and yes, it has probably grown...  You did not say what the ultrasound said this nodule was...  Was it a simply cyst, a complex cyst, a solid mass etc?.....  You thyroid is probably also enlarged and that is why you can see it or it may be the enlarged nodule...  My blood work was always within normal range even on the day of my surgery to remove the right thyroid gland and the cyst...  Thyroid work is one of the most unreliable blood tests there are and within normal range is not the same for every person...  If this is a complex cyst/nodule it could be cancer....  If a simple cyst it probably would not turn to cancer...  If a solid mass/nodule it could be cancer....  The fact that it is felt when you swallow it will simply continue to grow until it start blocking your throat as mine did...  It can also cause changes in your voice at some point...  

Thyroid problems do NOT have to run in families, especially nodules/cysts....  What you need to do is get a copy of the ultrasound report you had done last year and find out what type of nodule was found and also find out from this ultrasound the same thing...  Also, depending on what these reports say, you may want to get a second opinion from an Endocrinologist and/or a surgeon....

thank you,   karen