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The process of taking a specimen from the thyroid nodule in the thyroid gland is called thyroid biopsy. Thyroid nodules are discovered during the routine or ultrasonographic examination. Thyroid nodules less than 1 cm in size are difficult to detect by examination and are often unnoticed externally.

Thyroid biopsies are performed in daily practice to find out whether the nodules are cancerous. However, less than 10% of all thyroid nodules are cancerous.

When is a thyroid biopsy performed?

When a thyroid nodule is detected, a biopsy is performed if cancer is suspected. A complete physical examination and detailed laboratory evaluation should be performed beforehand for other thyroid diseases.

Some of the conditions that increase the likelihood of thyroid cancer can be listed:

• Being under the age of 30 and over the age of 60,
• Some symptoms such as difficulty in swallowing, hoarseness,
• Hard and fixed nodules identified on examination,
• The presence of enlarged lymph nodes in other regions of the neck,
• Having thyroid cancer in the family or in oneself.

When a thyroid nodule is detected, a biopsy is performed if cancer is suspected. A complete physical examination and detailed laboratory evaluation should be performed beforehand for other thyroid diseases.

How is a thyroid biopsy done?

Thyroid biopsy is performed as fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). In other words, the probability of the biopsy result being wrong is low in patients who are certain to have cancer. The biopsy process takes about 15-20 minutes with all the preparations.

What should the patient do before a thyroid biopsy?

A thyroid biopsy is a procedure that is feared by patients and turns into a phobia. In fact, the procedure is easier than other organ biopsies, and this fear stems from the fact that patients have insufficient knowledge about the biopsy procedure. The biopsy procedure is performed with simple plastic needles used in blood collection units in the daily hospital routine, and the person experiences pain as much as the pain experienced when blood is drawn from the arm. However, performing the procedure from the neck causes patients to experience fear.

What should the patient do after a thyroid biopsy?

The pain felt during the biopsy procedure is instantaneous and goes away after the procedure. Rarely, patients may experience mild discomfort. After the procedure, pressure is applied to the biopsy area with gauze or a sterile cloth for 20 minutes. It would be appropriate to pay attention to the biopsy area for one day in terms of infection.

What are the complications of thyroid biopsy?

Complications such as infection, cyst formation, bleeding, etc. can be seen after the biopsy. However, these complications are very rare with the right technique and approach.