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Needle Biopsy: Thyroid
Needle Biopsy: Thyroid(Fine-Needle Aspiration: Thyroid; Skinny-Needle Biopsy: Thyroid; Coarse-Needle Biopsy: Thyroid; Core Needle Biopsy: Thyroid)
by
Julie J. Martin, MS DefinitionA needle biopsy use a needle to removal of a small piece of tissue or fluid for testing. In this case the tissue is removed from the thyroid gland. Reasons for ProcedureA thyroid biopsy is usually done when a lump is found in the thyroid. The lump is often called a thyroid nodule. These nodules are fairly common and usually do not need treatment. Only about 5% of nodules are cancer. The needle biopsy is usually done to see if a nodule is cancer. The biopsy may also be done if there is no nodule but the thyroid is enlarged.
Possible Complications TOPComplications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a needle biopsy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:
What to Expect TOPPrior to ProcedureIn the days leading up to your procedure:
AnesthesiaLocal anesthesia is used. The area that is affected will be numb. You may also be given a sedative to help you relax Description of the ProcedureThere are two types of biopsies:
You will be asked to lie on your back. A pillow will be placed under your shoulders. Your neck will be extended. The site of the biopsy will be cleaned. For an FNA, your doctor will insert a tiny hollow needle into the nodule to collect a sample of tissue. For a CNB, your doctor will make a small cut in the skin. The needle will be inserted through the incision and into the thyroid to collect a sample. The process may need to be repeated several times. After the procedure, pressure will be applied to the biopsy site. A bandage will be applied. In some cases, your doctor will use ultrasound to help locate the area that needs to be sampled. If ultrasound is used, the doctor will place a transducer on your neck. The transducer will send images to a screen for your doctor to view. These images will be used to locate the nodule and to guide the needle. This helps to make sure your doctor got a sample of the nodule and not the surrounding "normal" tissue. How Long Will It Take?About 10-30 minutes (plus 30 minutes in the recovery room) Will It Hurt?You may feel soreness at the biopsy site for 1-2 days. Talk to your doctor about medications that may help. Post-procedure CareWhen you return home after the procedure, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:
Call Your Doctor TOPAfter arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:
In case of an emergency, call for medical help right away. RESOURCES:American Thyroid Association http://www.thyroid.org/ Thyroid Foundation of America http://www.allthyroid.org/ CANADIAN RESOURCES:Health Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ Thyroid Foundation of Canada http://www.thyroid.ca References:
Ross DS. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules/instructions for patients undergoing core needle biopsy. Thyroid Foundation of Canada website. Available at:
http://www.thyroid.ca/e12b.php
. Accessed December 27, 2012.
Thyroid nodules. American Thyroid Association website. Available at:
http://www.thyroid.org/what-are-thyroid-nodules
. Accessed December 27, 2012.
Thyroid nodule. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php
. Updated August 30, 2012. Accessed December 27, 2012.
Thyroid nodules. New York Thyroid Center website. Available at:
http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/thyroid/NodulesHP.html
. Accessed December 27, 2012.
Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid. RadiologyInfo.org website. Available at:
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=thyroidbiopsy
. Updated July 25, 2012. Accessed December 27, 2012.
Last reviewed November 2012 by Michael Woods, MD Last Updated: 11/26/2012 | |