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Thyroid biopsies can be performed using three primary methods:
1. Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Biopsy:
This is the most common and preferred method for thyroid nodule evaluation. The procedure involves cleaning the patient's neck with an antiseptic solution, followed by the optional application of local or topical anesthesia. Under ultrasound guidance, a physician inserts a very fine needle, thinner than those used for blood draws, into the thyroid nodule to aspirate cells. To ensure sufficient sample collection and increase the likelihood of detecting cancerous cells, the needle may be inserted multiple times (typically 2 to 6 passes) into the nodule. After sample collection, pressure is applied to the neck. An FNA biopsy generally takes about 30 minutes.
2. Core Needle Biopsy (CNB):
A core needle biopsy is typically performed when a fine needle aspiration biopsy does not yield a definitive diagnosis. In this procedure, an expert physician uses a larger, specialized needle, different from those used in FNA, to obtain a small tissue sample (approximately the size of a grain of rice) from the nodule. This tissue sample is then sent to a pathology laboratory for detailed analysis.
3. Surgical (Open) Biopsy:
This method is a surgical procedure performed in an operating room under general anesthesia by a surgeon. The skin over the thyroid gland is prepped with an antiseptic solution. The surgeon makes an incision in the patient's skin to visualize the thyroid gland and remove a tissue sample or an entire nodule. During the procedure, if cancer cells are identified, the surgeon may proceed to remove a part or the entirety of the thyroid gland. The incision is then closed with sutures and covered with a bandage. Some patients may require an overnight hospital stay following this procedure. Surgical biopsy is usually reserved for cases where other diagnostic tests have failed to determine the cause of symptoms. Due to its invasive nature and longer recovery period compared to needle biopsies, it is less frequently utilized.
How is a thyroid biopsy performed?
1. Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Biopsy:
This is the most common and preferred method for thyroid nodule evaluation. The procedure involves cleaning the patient's neck with an antiseptic solution, followed by the optional application of local or topical anesthesia. Under ultrasound guidance, a physician inserts a very fine needle, thinner than those used for blood draws, into the thyroid nodule to aspirate cells. To ensure sufficient sample collection and increase the likelihood of detecting cancerous cells, the needle may be inserted multiple times (typically 2 to 6 passes) into the nodule. After sample collection, pressure is applied to the neck. An FNA biopsy generally takes about 30 minutes.
2. Core Needle Biopsy (CNB):
A core needle biopsy is typically performed when a fine needle aspiration biopsy does not yield a definitive diagnosis. In this procedure, an expert physician uses a larger, specialized needle, different from those used in FNA, to obtain a small tissue sample (approximately the size of a grain of rice) from the nodule. This tissue sample is then sent to a pathology laboratory for detailed analysis.
3. Surgical (Open) Biopsy:
This method is a surgical procedure performed in an operating room under general anesthesia by a surgeon. The skin over the thyroid gland is prepped with an antiseptic solution. The surgeon makes an incision in the patient's skin to visualize the thyroid gland and remove a tissue sample or an entire nodule. During the procedure, if cancer cells are identified, the surgeon may proceed to remove a part or the entirety of the thyroid gland. The incision is then closed with sutures and covered with a bandage. Some patients may require an overnight hospital stay following this procedure. Surgical biopsy is usually reserved for cases where other diagnostic tests have failed to determine the cause of symptoms. Due to its invasive nature and longer recovery period compared to needle biopsies, it is less frequently utilized.