Thyroid Biopsy

Abstract

Thyroid nodules come to clinical attention when noted by the patient, or as an incidental finding during routine physical examination or a radiologic procedure, such as carotid ultrasonography or neck computed tomography (CT). Their clinical importance is primarily related to the need to exclude thyroid cancer, which is present in 4 to 6.5 percent of thyroid nodules. If a serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is normal, the next step in the evaluation of a thyroid nodule is a palpation or ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. This topic will review the techniques, utility, limitations, and complications of percutaneous thyroid biopsies. Ultrasound-guided thyroid biopsy, an atlas of cytopathologic findings, and overview of the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid nodules are discussed separately. (See "Ultrasound-guided thyroid biopsy" and "Atlas of thyroid cytopathology" and "Diagnostic approach to and treatment of thyroid nodule