Thyroid Biopsy
The thyroid gland is in the front of your neck. It is butterfly shaped, with 2 lobes connected by a narrow band of tissue. It is an endocrine gland that makes thyroid hormone. This hormone has many functions in your body. In some cases, hard nodules form inside the gland. A thyroid nodule is an unusual growth (lump) of thyroid cells in the thyroid gland. You might notice a small bump in your gland area. Most times, the nodules are not dangerous. But in some cases they can be thyroid cancer. A thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy can take a sample from the nodule to test for cancer.
If a biopsy finds that you have thyroid cancer, further tests may be needed to check whether the cancer had spread to another part of your body. The main tests used for this are: CT scan MRI scan.
Cause of nodules in the thyroid gland
Researchers do not know what causes most thyroid nodules. They are very common, though. Certain problems with the thyroid gland, like Hashimoto thyroiditis, may increase your chances of getting a thyroid nodule. Thyroid nodules are much more common in women than in men. Nodules tend to grow during pregnancy. People who have had radiation treatments to their neck are also more likely to develop nodules. Your risk of developing thyroid nodules or thyroid cancer is increased if members of your family have already had thyroid and certain other cancers.
Should all patients with thyroid nodules have a thyroid biopsy?
Not everyone who has a thyroid nodule needs a fine needle aspiration biopsy. Your healthcare provider may start with an ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) scan of your neck. Sometimes, this provides enough information to know that the nodule isn’t due to cancer. Blood tests of thyroid levels also may provide helpful information. If your healthcare provider can’t tell for sure, you’ll probably need a thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy.
Thyroid Biopsy Types
Types of thyroid biopsy methods according to the patient’s medical condition and the opinion of the treating physician are:
- Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy
- Core needle biopsy
- Surgical biopsy
Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy: This test uses a small needle. You’ll be awake, and the most you’ll feel is a small pinch. So you probably won’t need any numbing medicines. With the help of ultrasound imaging, your doctor places the needle into your neck to pull out a sample for testing. You may feel the needle move around a little. The procedure takes about half an hour. You may get a small bandage where the needle went in. Then, you can go on with the rest of your day.
Core needle biopsy: This is like FNA, but with a bigger needle. If your doctor doesn’t get clear answers from an FNA biopsy, this one might be a good backup plan. Researchers are still looking at when and how to best use it.
Surgical biopsy: Doctors rarely use this method on the thyroid. It requires making an opening in your neck to remove the node. It may even mean removing half your thyroid. Because it’s surgery, you’ll get medicines to put you under during the operation. It also means a longer recovery.
Advantages of needle aspiration biopsy
- The results of needle biopsy of the thyroid are close to 95% accurate for adequate biopsies.
- Needle biopsy is a reliable method of obtaining tissue samples that can help diagnose whether a nodule is benign (non-cancerous) or malignant.
- A needle biopsy is less invasive than open and closed surgical biopsies, both of which involve a larger incision in the skin and local or general anesthesia.
- Generally, the procedure is not painful and the results are as accurate as when a tissue sample is removed surgically.
- Recovery time is brief and patients can soon resume their usual activities.
What are the risks of thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy?
Thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy is a very safe procedure, but it does carry some slight risks. These include:
- Bleeding at the biopsy site
- Infection
- Damage to the structures near the thyroid
References
https://www.webmd.com/women/thyroid-biopsy-overview#2
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/thyroid-cancer/diagnosis/
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/thyroid-fine-needle-aspiration-biopsy
https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=thyroidbiopsy#:~:text=Thyroid%20biopsy%20is%20used%20to,a%20biopsy%20may%20be%20necessary.
