WHAT IS ULTRASOUND GUIDED THYROID FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION (FNA)?

Ultrasound guided Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) of the thyroid is a quick and simple procedure to perform, which removes fluid or cells from a thyroid cyst or nodule. An FNA is performed to determine the nature of the nodule, and to plan treatment if necessary or to drain a large or painful cyst.

BEFORE AN ULTRASOUND GUIDED THYROID FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION (FNA)

A doctor’s referral and an appointment are required for this examination.

Please let us know when making your appointment if you are taking any medications that thin your blood.

Please also bring along your request form, any previous imaging, and your Medicare card/any concession cards to your appointment.

DURING AN ULTRASOUND GUIDED THYROID FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION (FNA)

At New Medical Imaging Clinic, your FNA will be performed by a Radiologist who will send a report to your referring doctor detailing the procedure that has been performed.

The skin of the neck is washed with antiseptic and a fine needle is used to give local anaesthetic to numb the area for biopsy. A thin needle, similar to a needle used for taking a blood sample is placed through the skin into the thyroid, using ultrasound guidance, to sample the area of interest. The needle stays in the thyroid for a short time and is gently moved back and forth within the nodule so cells are collected into the needle.

The sample of fluid or cells is smeared on a glass slide and sent to a pathology laboratory to be examined by a specialist doctor (a cytologist) under a microscope.

Please allow about an hour for the procedure.

AFTER AN ULTRASOUND GUIDED THYROID FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION (FNA)

After the procedure, the biopsy site may be tender or show some bruising. We suggest taking Paracetamol to reduce discomfort; otherwise, no special care is required.

• You will be able to leave the clinic shortly after the procedure
• You may drive yourself home after the procedure
• You may resume your normal activities
• You may remove the adhesive dressing the evening of the FNA

If your neck becomes red, swollen or tender in the days after your FNA, please see your local doctor or contact our clinic to check the FNA site.

The results from the FNA will be provided directly to your referring doctor by the Pathology provider that the sample is sent to. This may take up to 5 days. Sometimes the results may be inconclusive and require repeat FNA or further tests. Your doctor will discuss this with you.

Please ensure that you make a follow up appointment with your referring doctor or health care provider to discuss your results.

PATIENT SAFETY

Fine Needle Aspirations of the thyroid is a safe procedure. It is common to get a small skin bruise and occasionally a bruise may develop in the neck tissue which may cause a tender lump. This usually settles in a few days. More significant bleeding or infection is rare.