dburtaine

Hi,

I went to get the results of my RAIU and scan today. I am typing below what the report says:

"History of left thyroid nodule. Comparison ultrasound exam February 11. 285 uCi of I-123 in capsule form was administered to the patient orally, and a 24-hour RAIU and scan were performed. The 6 hours radioactive iodine uptake is normal at 11.3%. The 24-hour RAIU = 27.2% which is within normal limits (normal = 10-35%).

Multiple images of the thyroid gland were obtained in anterior and oblique projections with pinhole magnificatio at 24 hours.

The images show that the thyroid gland is borderline enlarged. The lobes are biconvex in configuration. There is patchy, inhomogeneous uptake of the radionuclide throughout both lobes consistent with a multinodular goiter. There are no dominant cold non-functioning nodules. There is no substernal extension. No old nonfunctioning nodule is identified in the left lobe. The nodule seen on ultrasound exam in the left lobe appears to be functioning.

IMPRESSION: Abnormal thyroid scan. Scinitgraphic appearance consistent with a mild non-toxic multinodular goiter. The scan would be consistent with Hashimoto's chronic thyroditis."

A few questions:

1. This is good (relatively speaking), right? In other words, it appears to be pointing toward non-cancerous.
2. What does "the lobes are biconvex in configuration" mean?
3. What does "there is no substernal extension" mean?
4. When I went for my regular ultrasound on February 11, the diagnosis was a non-toxic uninodular goiter (with a solitary solid 2 cm nodule on the left lobe). The diagnosis after the RAIU and scan appears to be a multinodular goiter. I am confused how it went from uni to multi. Does the scan give a higher resolution picture?
5. I will have to read up more on Hashimoto's, but I assume it requires taking medication. Is this correct?

I saw the thyroid surgeon today to discuss the results. He recommends having an FNA done and then seeing an endo. The strange thing is he could not feel the nodule in my left lobe. None of the other doctors I have seen besides the ENT (who discovered the nodule) can feel it either. The thyroid surgeon says it is probably posterior.

Thank you everyone. I am new to this and am still learning.

MG -- I had never heard of Hashimoto's until you responded to my post about an itchy chin and neck. Thank you -- you are wonderful!!!