Question 1

is local anesthesia enough to handle the pain of a core needle biopsy?

Accepted Answer

What part of body?: Pain from a needle biopsy is dependent on what pain fibers are present in the organ being biopsied and what tissues need to be traversed between the skin and that organ.  Therefore, superficial structures like the breast, thyroid, certain lymph nodes, and lumps just under the skin can be biopsied w/local alone. If we have to enter a body cavity, some sedation may be necessary, as well.

Question 2

does it hurt to have a thyroid needle biopsy done?

Accepted Answer

Depends: It depends on your pain threshold but in general, it is not more than getting your lab draw, it's just intimidating because it's a needle in the neck.  It's easy enough that some docs don't even need to give you numbing medication.

Question 3

what is some advice on what to expect during and after thyroid needle biopsy?

Accepted Answer

Simple Procedure: Thyroid nodule fna is usually an easy procedure for patients. Many will do it under u/s guidance. The needle is very tiny. Some may even numb the area before the fna. It doesn't really hurt, but there can be referred discomfort to the inside of the ear on that side until the needle is pulled back. A few samples are necessary. After, the area may be a little puffy & sore to touch for a day or so.

Question 4

what is a benign fine needle biopsy of the thyroid?

Accepted Answer

Not cancer: A fine needle biopsy is a procedure in which needles are inserted through the skin and into the thyroid to obtain samples of cells of a nodule to look for cancer cells. Benign means no cancer.

Question 5

what to expect with a fine needle biopsy of my thyroid?

Accepted Answer

Screening test: A fine needle aspirate is usually done if there is a nodule in the gland. It provides a limited sample but can be diagnostic depending on the cause of the nodule. It may show just fluid, if the nodule is a cyst to showing cancer cells if the nodule is cancer. A negative test does not rule out disease due to limited sampling.

Question 6

does a needle biopsy of thyroid hurt ? does it take long?

Accepted Answer

Minimal discomfort: A fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid is done with a fine gauge needle (usually 22 to 25 gauge).  For comparison, when blood is drawn one usually uses an 18 gauge needle (lower gauge means larger needle).  Usually local anesthesia is used so there should be very little discomfort.  The actual biopsy only takes a few seconds for each needle pass (typically 4 passes are done).

Question 7

whats invovled during a  fine needle biopsy of the thyroid?

Accepted Answer

This is how I do it: After local anesthesia is given (an injection just under the skin), a very fine needle is guided into the thyroid nodule through ultrasound visualization. I repeat the needle pass 4 times. Each pass only lasts for a few seconds. It is very well tolerated and it takes 20 minutes or so in all. There are no special precautions after the biopsy, other than wearing a band-aid for 2-3 hours.

Question 8

what is the meaning of a benign fine needle biopsy of the thyroid?

Accepted Answer

A great deal: If the fna was of a nodule and the specimen is adequate for a cytopathologist to read there is a great likelyhood that you do not have a cancer. Ask the person who did the fna exactly what he/she meant by "benign".

Question 9

what should i expect with a fine needle biopsy of my thyroid?  what are the possible tumors or results?

Accepted Answer

Well tolerated: Many times we biopsy nodules seen on ultrasound. Most are benign. If a cancer is seen, most of the time it is papillary, and treatable with thyroidectomy and lymph node removal. There can be follicular cells seen, which usually results in removal of one side of the thyroid, as you can't tell for sure if its noncancerous follicular cells on fna. Rarely, they dont get enough cells to tell.

Question 10

thyroid nodules  3.6 left  3.4 right  is a needle biopsy practical at this size? should we just schedule removal of the thyroid.

Accepted Answer

Big nodules: Hi. Those are big nodules. They should only have FNAB done if you plan to NOT remove them if they're benign. If they're bugging you and you want them out even if they're benign, then you can skip FNAB.

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Doctor answers about:

Anesthesia for thyroid needle biopsy

A member asked:

Is local anesthesia enough to handle the pain of a core needle biopsy?

A member asked:

Does it hurt to have a thyroid needle biopsy done?

A member asked:

What is some advice on what to expect during and after thyroid needle biopsy?

A member asked:

What is a benign fine needle biopsy of the thyroid?

A member asked:

What to expect with a fine needle biopsy of my thyroid?

A member asked:

Does a needle biopsy of thyroid hurt ? does it take long?

A member asked:

Whats invovled during a fine needle biopsy of the thyroid?

A member asked:

What is the meaning of a benign fine needle biopsy of the thyroid?

A member asked:

What should i expect with a fine needle biopsy of my thyroid? what are the possible tumors or results?

A member asked:

Thyroid nodules 3.6 left 3.4 right is a needle biopsy practical at this size? should we just schedule removal of the thyroid.

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