- Thyroid biopsy: indications
- How is a thyroid biopsy done
- What is the result of a thyroid biopsy
- When the thyroid biopsy needs to be repeated
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A thyroid biopsy is a test that helps determine the nature of the changes that occur in the thyroid gland. We commonly call them nodules. A thyroid biopsy, providing material for microscopic examination, may help to exclude or confirm that the lesion is cancerous.
Thyroid biopsy- when should it be done? Your doctor will ordera thyroid biopsywhen ultrasound detects one or morenodules . Most of the changes that occur mostly in women are benign. Only 4 percent of the thyroid nodules examined by biopsy and other diagnostic techniques are neoplastic. However, they all need to be explored. Thyroid biopsies are also performed when there is suspicion of inflammatory changes in the thyroid gland. The treatment can also be used to empty the thyroid cyst of fluid.
Thyroid biopsy: indications
The endocrinologist and the biopsy physician decide whether there are indications for the examination. In the case of single nodules, such a lesion is examined. If there are many nodules - several nodules are examined, e.g. those with features indicating malignant nature - they reflect the ultrasound waves poorly or their size carries a risk of malignancy (over 4 cm in diameter).
How is a thyroid biopsy done
The procedure is performed with a thin needle, 0.4-0.6 mm thick. Professionally, it is called FNAB, i.e. ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. The examination does not require any special preparation.
Read more: Biopsy - types of biopsy and the course of the examination
A non-diagnostic biopsy is a term used by doctors when the collected material does not contain thyroid cells or does not contain enough thyroid cells to make a clear diagnosis.
For a thyroid biopsy, you should only come to it with medical records and tell your doctor about any coexisting diseases, e.g. allergies or problems with blood clotting. Thyroid biopsy does not require anesthesia - it does not anesthetize the deep tissues of the thyroid gland, and it is more painful than the biopsy itself.
Thyroid biopsy is performed by a pathologist in cooperation with a radiologist. The radiologist puts the ultrasound head on and finds the lesion. The pathologist inserts the needle and all the timefollowing its path, he reaches the change and then pulls (aspires) the material for examination. After removing the needle, a dressing is put on. After the examination, a small hematoma may form at the injection site.
What is the result of a thyroid biopsy
Cytological examination of the material collected by thyroid biopsy helps to determine the nature of the lesions: whether they are malignant, benign or suspicious. The test also helps to find out if the thyroid gland is undergoing an inflammatory process, e.g. characteristic of Hashimoto's disease.
When the thyroid biopsy needs to be repeated
Thyroid nodules are diverse and heterogeneous. They consist of both the tissue of the thyroid gland as well as protein (colloid tumors) or fluid (cysts). If there are no thyroid tissues in the material collected during the biopsy, only colloidal nodule cells and fluid - it is worth repeating the biopsy.