Vocalist.org archive


From:  gwyee@r...
gwyee@r...
Date:  Sun Jun 10, 2001  3:09 am
Subject:  [vocalist] Re: MED: Thyroid Biopsy


At 02:10 AM 6/10/01 -0000, Laura wrote:>
>1. Local anesthesia or no? May I request one way or the other?

Fine needle aspiration of thyroid nodules is always under local anesthesia.

>2. This is a question about Dr. Messmer's post:
>(SNIP)"This risk is also low in the hands of an experienced surgeon
>so unless it is cancer, there are to my knowledge, no reasons to
>remove a nodule."

[snip] It was believed the nodule was contributing to
>her chronic hoarseness.
Gee... did the ENT agree with this conclusion?

She was very upset when the hoarseness not
>only failed to resolve after surgery, but worsened.
Do you know why? Was there some trauma to the recurrent laryngeal nerve?
The thyroid gland is anatomically outside of the larynx

>Are you saying removing a nodule that is not cancerous, but is believed to be
>interfering with speech and/or swallowing is not advisable?
I wouldn't say this; and I don't think Dr John is saying this either. In
general, I would expect that any neck mass interfering with primary
functions such as speech, breathing, swallowing should be removed. But as
regards small benign thyroid nodules suspected to be affecting voice, I
think I would seek another opinion. I suppose a mass might *involve* or lie
close to the recurrent laryngeal nerve, however, in which case surgery would
be of greater risk. Then a second opinion would definitely be helpful.

GWendel


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