On the left, I have a vascular lump 2.5cm x 2cm x 1.7cm "circumscribed heterogeneous solid nodule with central cystic degeneration and tiny areas of calcification".
On the right I have a 3.9mm solid nodule & 2.7mm hypoechoic nodule. I wonder if that means I have 2 lumps or whether it's one with 2 characteristics?
So I guess the concern now is that I have a 'complex solid nodule with a cystic structure & calcification and moderate vascularity - 2.5cm in diameter'
So I will have to have a biopsy after all - booked in for Friday morning.
I had to call up a medical dictionary to look at some of the terms - (ultimately I know not to rely on the radiology report; I need to have some clarification from the pathology & my other doctors)
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from wikipedia & medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com
Vascular: An organ or tissue that is vascularized is heavily endowed with blood vessels and thus richly supplied with blood.
circumscribed:bounded or limited; confined to a limited space.
Heterogeneous is an adjective used to describe something that has a large number of variants or different forms; is one that consists of many different items, which are often not easily sorted or separated, though they are clearly distinct.
A nodule describes an aggregation of similar cells or particles
Interestingly, A cyst is a closed sac having a distinct membrane and division on the nearby tissue. They may contain air, fluids, or semi-solid material. A collection of pus is called an abscess, not a cyst. Once formed, the cyst could go away by itself or will have to be removed using surgery
degeneration: deterioration; change from a higher to a lower form, especially change of tissue to a lower or less functionally active form
Calcification is the process in which the mineral calcium builds up in soft tissue, causing it to harden.
hypoechoic: in ultrasonography, giving off few echoes; said of tissues or structures that reflect relatively few of the ultrasound waves directed at them
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My general understanding is that a calcification or round lump/nodule is nothing to be concerned about. However the vascular & irregular lumps are more of an issue - that's the vasular and Heterogeneous one.
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I did a search and found this one in wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyroid_cancer
It's interesting to note that....
The blood assays may be accompanied by ultrasound imaging of the nodule to determine the position, size and texture, and to assess whether the nodule may be cystic (fluid filled). Also suspicious findings in a nodule are hypoechoic,[3] irregular borders, microcalcifications, or very high levels of blood flow within the nodule.
Less suspicious findings in benign nodules include, hyperechoic, comet tail artifacts from colloid, no blood flow in the nodule and a halo, or smooth border.
so the fine needle biopsy is a good alternative at the moment in the diagnosis of what these lumps are...
It's interesting, from memory, some of my thyroid function tests have been low (and back to normal) again over the last 18 months or so - we just assumed that it was due to the bleeding HHT disorder.
So it's interesting to find these lumps now.
I didnt know where the thyroid was, so when they did the ultrasound, I was a little surprised. See this image
http://thyroid.about.com/library/links/blthyroid.htm
Symptoms of hypothyroidism usually go along with a slowdown in metabolism, and can include fatigue, weight gain, and depression, among others.
The symptoms of hypothyroidism are often subtle, but can include
- Fatigue *yes
- Depression *
- Modest weight gain*
- Cold intolerance
- Excessive sleepiness*
- Dry, coarse hair
- Constipation
- Dry skin
- Muscle cramps*
- Increased cholesterol levels*
- Decreased concentration*
- Vague aches and pains*
- Swelling of the legs*
I've also had some really really bad cramps in the legs - the last one on saturday night/sunday morning was so bad I couldnt straighten my leg for the day nor put any sort of pressure on it. It's taken about 36 hours to come good! I've had some leg cramps (only 1 other bad one like that) but given 1/2hr or so it sorts itself out.
I'm getting around the memory problem / concentration problem by utilising a diary & notebook - didnt realise it was also an issue until I saw the above list!
I thought it was me getting old!
The chronic fatigue & tiredness we put down to blood loss; but maybe not!
Interesting again...
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