Anyone else had thyroid tissue regrowth after a total thyroidectomy?

Posted by avawein @avawein, Sep 12, 2021

Hi All. In 2004 I had a total thyroidectomy for nodules that were suddenly growing quite rapidly (non-cancerous). Two years ago I was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumor in my terminal ileum which was surgically removed. In the last month, they found two stable tumors in my liver but the CT scan and subsequent PET scan also showed what appears to be thyroid tissue (3+ cm long) in the left thyroid bed. My doctors showed skepticism that I had a total thyroidectomy but I have records to prove it. Has anyone else had thyroid tissue regrowth after a total thyroidectomy? I have a biopsy scheduled in two days. Thanks.

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Thank you. I feel ok these days. Some sluggish others on nerves. But overall I'm good, except tired at end of the day. I have a PET scan scheduled on Oct 31. So hopefully it'll reveal what's going on or it'll show nothing.
Thank you for checking in on me, I do appreciate the concern.

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Profile picture for colorado73 @colorado73

Not sure what is going on with me other than Dr ordered an ultrasound, 6month marker post surgery of removing thyroid. Radiologist sees something growing on right side of thyroid bed, which is exactly where the cancerous nodule was found & removed with the thyroid gland. So now Dr is ordering PET scan pretty quick to determine what the hell is going on! Scared & worried. Any advice? Surgery was April 2023.
I'm on 175mg Synthroid as well.

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That is un-nerving @colorado73. Have you had the PET scan? How are you doing?

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Not sure what is going on with me other than Dr ordered an ultrasound, 6month marker post surgery of removing thyroid. Radiologist sees something growing on right side of thyroid bed, which is exactly where the cancerous nodule was found & removed with the thyroid gland. So now Dr is ordering PET scan pretty quick to determine what the hell is going on! Scared & worried. Any advice? Surgery was April 2023.
I'm on 175mg Synthroid as well.

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Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

Any update after your consult, @littlelion? How are you doing?

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Hi! They can’t guarantee it isn’t thyroid cancer without removal of the masses but he said he isn’t wanting to rush removal due to where it’s growing they could cut my vocal cord and leave me on calcium tablets for life and if they remove it and it isn’t he would’ve caused those issues for no reason. I’m going for some form of scan again in a couple of weeks (he said technical but I have no idea what that means but he gave me a number to ring if I had questions so I’ll ring and check on that) and then they’ll do another ultrasound in a few months and if it’s still growing bigger then he said they will remove it then. Not really sure how to feel.

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Profile picture for littlelion @littlelion

Sorry to hear that, how are you feeling now? I’ve been scanned a couple of times via ultrasound the past few months as well as having a biopsy of the area done. I’m classing my appointment on Tuesday with the surgeon as a second opinion as this is a new dr at another hospital, my current consultant has asked him to review my case. Thank you for the well wishes. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome

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Any update after your consult, @littlelion? How are you doing?

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Profile picture for colorado73 @colorado73

I'm sure sorry you're going through this. I had my thyroid removed in April due to a cancerous nodule & having thyroid cancer running in my genes & family history. I would be very vigilant about getting ultrasounds on that area to keep watch. But if not sure I'd get a second opinion.
Best of luck to you.

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Sorry to hear that, how are you feeling now? I’ve been scanned a couple of times via ultrasound the past few months as well as having a biopsy of the area done. I’m classing my appointment on Tuesday with the surgeon as a second opinion as this is a new dr at another hospital, my current consultant has asked him to review my case. Thank you for the well wishes. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome

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I'm sure sorry you're going through this. I had my thyroid removed in April due to a cancerous nodule & having thyroid cancer running in my genes & family history. I would be very vigilant about getting ultrasounds on that area to keep watch. But if not sure I'd get a second opinion.
Best of luck to you.

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Profile picture for medicalinterest @medicalinterest

I had a similar experience with Hurthle cell tumors and thyroid surgically removed 20 + years ago and later tumors regrew. Surgically removed again about 10 years ago and so far no problem. Hurthle cell tumors seem to be a especially bad type of thyroid cancer.

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Glad to hear you've had no further problems since the 2nd surgery. I have an appointment next Tuesday with an endocrine surgeon so will find out more about what's happening then.

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Profile picture for bevr @bevr

I shared this in a previous post, but briefly, I had a similar situation where 20 years after a total thyroidectomy I found a lump in my neck. Several biopsies came back inconclusive, and my surgeon was sure it was benign. But after surgery they found solid Hurthle Cell cancer, which can't be detected until the mass is removed.

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I had a similar experience with Hurthle cell tumors and thyroid surgically removed 20 + years ago and later tumors regrew. Surgically removed again about 10 years ago and so far no problem. Hurthle cell tumors seem to be a especially bad type of thyroid cancer.

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Profile picture for koh @koh

Maybe you can ask if it would possible to have radiofrequecby ablation? …. Anything that shrinks a benign growth sounds like a less invasive way to deal with things. I’m not a fan of surgery and removal unless I absolutely MUST have something removed. Good luck!

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Thank you. One minute I’m told they can’t leave it in, the next minute they’re saying they might monitor it rather than removing it because of it being awkward surgery. I will see someone new who I’ve been referred to from my ENT consultant who’s an Endocrine surgeon so I will definitely ask if it’s possible to do that. I really really don’t want to have to go through surgery/removal of something else again so would really prefer something like that. Thank you ☺️

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