Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of a thyroid nodule

During the fine-needle aspiration biopsy, you lie on your back. The aspiration biopsy is not any more painful than venous blood sampling and takes less than a minute. After an explanation, you sign a patient consent form. The tissue biopsy is carried out using a syringe with a max. 0.9-millimetre-thin needle, using sonographic testing. Afterwards, you must put pressure on the puncture site for ten minutes using a swab.

Patients with existing anticoagulation with Marcumar must stop taking their medication one week prior to the fine-needle aspiration biopsy and change to a low-molecular-weight heparin. If an acetylsalicylic acid (e.g. Thrombo ASS) is currently taken, it should not be taken on the day of the planned fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

The total duration of the fine-needle aspiration biopsy, including the explanation and signing the patient consent form, is around 15 minutes.

A small, localised haematoma sometimes but rarely forms at the puncture site, especially if insufficient pressure was put on the puncture site with the swab. A haematoma like this is not dangerous and disappears after a few days. Localised inflammation at the puncture site is extremely rare.