WHAT IS A “FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY” OF A THYROID NODULE?
This is performed by taking a small needle and injecting “Novocaine” into the skin of the neck. This is so you will not feel the needle going into the neck. At that time, while the skin is numb, a needle (which is smaller than the needle used to take blood from your arm) is passed through the skin into the thyroid nodule. Some cells are sucked up into the needle and then placed on slides to be sent to a pathologist for review. The procedure is performed in the doctor’s office, does not require hospitalization, does not require general anesthesia, and the patient is ready to walk out of the office as soon as the procedure is finished. There is very little discomfort involved, and most patients say that the slight stinging sensation that they get when the local anesthetic is injected into the skin is the worst part of the whole procedure! WHAT IS THYROID HORMONE SUPPRESSION THERAPY? Depending upon the results of the biopsy, surgery may be indicated or a use of thyroid hormone known as th
