Address
725 W. LaVeta Ave, Ste. 220, Orange, CA
Office Hours
7:30am - 4:30pm (Mon-Fri)
Office Number
(714) 771-5700
Fax
(714) 771-9977
Learn more about this safe procedure
A thyroid FNA biopsy is a procedure that removes a small sample of tissue from your thyroid gland or from a lymph node. Cells are removed through a small, hollow needle. The sample is sent to the lab for analysis.
Thyroid FNA is a very safe procedure, but it does carry some slight risks of bleeding and infection which are rare.
While most thyroid nodules are not cancer, a thyroid FNA can take a sample from the nodule to test for cancer. There is also a small risk that the FNA will not show for sure whether the nodule is cancerous. If this happens, you might need a repeat biopsy or additional tests such as molecular markers.
There is very little you need to do to prepare for a thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy. Ask your endocrinologist whether you should stop taking any medicines before the procedure, like blood thinners. You should be able to eat and drink normally before and after the procedure. You do not need anyone to drive you as there is no anesthesia needed. It is best to remove all neck jewelry and wear a low necked shirt to expose the neck for the procedure as well.
Your endocrinologist will use betadine and/or alcohol to clean the area. Please inform your doctor if you are allergic to either one. A very small, pediatric size needle will then be inserted into the nodule which may hurt a little, equivalent to getting a blood draw. The needle will then be moved back and forth several times to obtain the sample. Your doctor might repeat the procedure a few times to obtain different samples from different parts of the nodule. A small bandaid is placed over the site and the cells are sent to the lab for analysis.
The site of the biopsy might be sore for a few days after the procedure. You can take over-the-counter pain medicine like acetaminophen (Tylenol) if needed. You can expect a call from your endocrinologist within 5-10 business days with the results. However, if you do not hear from the office, please call us to obtain your results.
Sometimes, the pathologist cannot determine for sure whether your nodule is cancer. In this case, your endocrinologist might recommend a repeat biopsy, surgery or just a follow-up ultrasound to monitor the nodule for changes. As it is not possible to remove all cells during an FNA, it is imperative that the nodule be followed by ultrasound even if it is not cancer.
