Thyroid FNA

Kaylee-parotid
Kaylee-parotid Member Posts: 16
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hi all, just wondering if anyone has any knowledge on the accuracy of FNA for diagnosing papillary cancer?

Comments

  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #2
    I had one
    And it was negative. That said, I personally don't find much value in FNA. Negative can just be the needle did not harvest the correct tissue. Are you being monitored via CT or other imaging tests? Is there a thyroid cyst involved? What I have learned is that the best way to look at these things is with an ultrasound in conjuction with FNA. You may also try posting on the Thyroid cancer site.
  • Kaylee-parotid
    Kaylee-parotid Member Posts: 16
    #3
    ratface said:

    I had one
    And it was negative. That said, I personally don't find much value in FNA. Negative can just be the needle did not harvest the correct tissue. Are you being monitored via CT or other imaging tests? Is there a thyroid cyst involved? What I have learned is that the best way to look at these things is with an ultrasound in conjuction with FNA. You may also try posting on the Thyroid cancer site.

    thanks ratface.
    Thanks ratface. I didn't realise that thyroid wasn't head-and-neck, so thanks for that. Yes it was an ultrasound guided FNA. Nodules were noticed on a follow up CT from a parotid cancer two and a half years ago. Even though the Doctor has had the results of the FNA on his desk since Monday evening, I'm still waiting for him to call me and let me know the results!!! He's a very skilled surgeon, but more interested in body parts than in people! So, do otolaryngologists even do thyroid surgery? Well - I'll pop on over to the thyroid discussion board.
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #4
    Kaylee-parotid said:

    thanks ratface.
    Thanks ratface. I didn't realise that thyroid wasn't head-and-neck, so thanks for that. Yes it was an ultrasound guided FNA. Nodules were noticed on a follow up CT from a parotid cancer two and a half years ago. Even though the Doctor has had the results of the FNA on his desk since Monday evening, I'm still waiting for him to call me and let me know the results!!! He's a very skilled surgeon, but more interested in body parts than in people! So, do otolaryngologists even do thyroid surgery? Well - I'll pop on over to the thyroid discussion board.

    You're fine here also
    I found that board a bit slow and unresponsive. All things considered that's probably a good thing. I think otolaryngologists handle thyroid surgery. They certainly handle that area fairly well with neck disections. I would be interested staying in contact with you as our circumstances are almost the same. They found mine 2 yrs post base of the tongue cancer on a CT scan. They call it a cyst. My fine needle aspiration yielded nothing of interest. That really is not very comforting but the fact that thyroid nodules are very common and most often not cancer is. You could just call and ask for a copy of the pathology as your answer is in there. Mentally , if it comes, I'm ready for it as it in early stage should be somewhat easier than what we already went through. Hopefully they will just keep an eye on the nodules until your next scan and compare changes. Are you taking thyroid medicine now? I am as my thyroid was damaged during treatment and perhaps what the CT picks up is related to the damage. Please let us know the outcome. All my best to you. Rick
  • Kaylee-parotid
    Kaylee-parotid Member Posts: 16
    #5
    colloid nodule
    Ultrasound guided FNA results indicated colloid nodules. From what I've read that sounds like the best result I could have hoped for. I was most worried that it would come back inconclusive, and I'd be left stressing! Thanks for the support!

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