What is thyroid needle aspiration?
Thyroid needle aspiration is a minimally invasive test in which cells are removed to make a correct and accurate diagnosis of the type of thyroid nodule. It differs from the biopsy because in the latter a whole tissue is extracted and not only some cells, besides the analysis of the puncture-aspiration will be cytological.
What does it consist of?
Thyroid puncture-aspiration is performed in an outpatient center without anesthesia and consists in the extraction of thyroid cells by means of a needle. The only risk of this procedure is that a small hematoma may form at the site where the needle was inserted: the risk is almost nil if ice is applied before the test.
Thyroid puncture-aspiration consists of the extraction of thyroid cells by means of a needle.
Why is it performed?
This procedure is performed to diagnose the type of thyroid nodule and is performed in three cases:
- Palpable nodules in progressive growth.
- Nodules with a diameter of less than 10 mm in which suspicious characteristics such as irregular margins, presence of microcalcifications, vascularization, etc. have been identified.
- People who have nodules and are at high risk due to a family history of thyroid disease, familial papillary carcinoma, familial medullary carcinoma.
What does the test feel like?
Patients feel only slight discomfort from the needle prick, the same as that experienced, for example, during a common blood draw; in any case, this discomfort is only felt during the procedure.