Thyroid cyst growth

[Shumayya]

Hi all,

I have a thyroid cyst measuring 3cm but recently I have felt some pain and difficulty swallowing. I have seen an endocrinologist at st barts who said that the cyst is benign and a follow up appointment has been scheduled for next year.

However, I definitely feel that theres been a growth and am contemplating going for a private scan if anyone has any recommendations in London?

What are my options should the cyst have grown? I have had bloods to check thyroid levels which came back normal.

I also have CML which is type of blood cancer.

Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

I have had bloods to check thyroid levels which came back normal.

Can you add results and ranges ?

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once for autoimmune thyroid disease

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)

Low vitamin levels are extremely common especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[Shumayya in reply to SlowDragon]

I went for a private advanced thyroid blood test on Tuesday early morning

My results are as follows:

FT3- 4.5 pmol/L

FT4- 18.3 pmol/ L

TSH- 1.23 mIU/L

TgAB- 13.4 kIU/L

TpOAb- 9.6 kIU/L

T4- 112.0 nmoI/L

I have also had a seperate thyroid blood test through NHS but it wasn't the full panel.

My VitD levels were low so im taking supplements, need to check with my consultant re other levels next month when im due for my monthly bloods for CML.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Shumayya]

Suggest you get B12, folate and ferritin tested too

[PinkSkittles]

You can get it ablated if its benign, using Radio frequency ablation. They do it on the nhs. Probably only in some trusts. If not you can pay privately although.

[PurpleNails Administrator in reply to PinkSkittles]

RFA is for solid nodules. Cysts can be drained but they almost always refill.

Not many trusts offer the procedure.

Private options also seem currently unavailable in UK.

Members have gone abroad.

You may mean ethanol ablation. I'll add some more information later.

[PurpleNails Administrator]

btf-thyroid.org/less-invasi...

Above link is information on less invasive treatment options.

Explains why Ethanol ablation can be used on cysts & names locations of UK hospitals offering it.

Always add ranges to results. Ranges vary between labs. By most ranges your thyroid results are in normal range?

[Shumayya in reply to PurpleNails]

Yes my thyroid results are in normal range. I feel that my thyroid cyst is a result of my chemotherapy medication though my consultant says there is no link.

Can my gp or endocrinologist make a referral to one of the hospitals that offer ablation? Im wondering if that will be an easy process.

[PurpleNails Administrator in reply to Shumayya]

Depends on the doctor / area you are in. Some are amenable to arranging referral. Some seem to automatically refuse or just stall. My advice is collect lots of information and ask…. Persistently if necessary.

In my experience of seeking for referral for RFA to a hospital 100s of miles away from GP, they will only go to the local hospital - but they did ask for information on how to go about it. The specialist replied to say converting to a referral to discuss. However there been no clinic appointments available for 6 months. I have a strong impression they won’t easily agree & will try to push me into standard treatment (Radioactive iodine or surgery).

Others have gone abroad for private treatment of arranged a visit to private endocrinologist who have submitted a NHS referral.

[MaggieSylvie]

I have an enlarged thyroid that was picked up last week on an x-ray, and when I said it had been there a long time (I am 79) the doctor/nurse decided not to put it on the report. In view of recent GP interest in my thyroid, I think it was wrong of him to ignore it. Especially, as he had also tried to tell me I had no new compression fractures, which is quite insulting to a patient who has experienced six previous ones, and the x-ray has shown another one or even two. I am still in huge pain, having been discharged with Oromorph and patches a day after entering A & E.