Thyroid Nodules 2

Large biopsy proven Benign Nodular Simple Goiter ( Not due to Hashimotos, and with normal TSH,T4,T3, and negative thyroid antibodies ) is causing local symptoms, and is a cosmetic problem as well. Prior to interventional procedures( ethanol PEI, and radiofrequency RFA ablation done by clinical thyroidologists surgery was the only solution.

Simple Goiter is a common thyroid disorder that because the thyroid blood tests for TSH and T4 are normal, the physician does not consider referring to a thyroid specialist for evaluation for therapy until things start to go wrong. When the thyroid goiter enlarges and causes symptoms they rush you off the the surgeon to have it removed. When the goiter starts to grow nodules they send you to a radiologist for a biopsy. Even if the biopsy is benign there is still a strong possibility you will see a surgeon who will tell you it is better to remove it. If the goiter causes rapid growth with or without pain and the ultrasound shows a cyst, your physician will again send you to the surgeon. After years of following your goiter without therapy it now becomes a cosmetic problem for you, he sends you to the surgeon. As you can see an untreated goiter that has not been evaluated and treated with non-invasive methods available to a clinical thyroidologist will usually end up under the surgeon’s knife.

Well your simple goiter is not so simple after all. That is why you must request a referral to a non-surgeon endocrine thyroidologist, sonologist who is certified in endocrine neck ultrasound ECNU by American College of Endocrinology. Check thyroid.org for one near you, or visit me for a overnight complete evaluation to see if you are a candidate for any of these therapy options instead of waiting for the eventual referral by your physician to have your goiter removed.
If you have a thyroid nodule, you should have it evaluated by a physician trained in the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules. Endocrinologists and clinical thyroidologists are the right specialists to see for nodule evaluation.

At Thyroid Center of Santa Monica, Richard Guttler, MD will take a careful history for risk factors for thyroid disease (including radiation exposure), do a physical examination, and order blood tests to check the activity of the gland. Some of the ways we can treat thyroid nodules using interventional thyroidology include nuclear medicine, ultrasound-guided PEI, and radioactive iodine.