Diagnosis of Thyroid Cancer
Frequently there are no symptoms associated with thyroid cancer. Initially, a lump on the neck may be noticed by the doctor or the patient. For others, the diagnosis may be made following the exploration of a seemingly unrelated health issue such as trouble swallowing or a hoarse voice. For most people, what follows next is a neck ultrasound or a fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Sometimes these diagnostic techniques are done together.
Neck Ultrasound (US)
The usual procedure for a neck ultrasound is that you are asked to lie on your back, extending your head backwards. With the help of some gel, the attending technician rubs a wand-like probe over the neck area, stopping to click on a computer keyboard in order to take still pictures of specific areas of interest. For most people, it is a relatively quick and painless procedure. The interpretation of the images of thyroid nodules and adjacent lymph nodes depends on the skill of the reviewing radiologist so it is important to have the results interpreted by a doctor with this specific expertise.
Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB)
The fine needle aspiration biopsy is performed by a specialist such as an endocrinologist; ear, nose and throat doctor (ENT); radiologist or surgeon. When a nodule can be palpated (felt by touch), the doctor inserts a needle into the lump to remove a sample for analysis under a microscope (biopsy). In the case where the nodules are very small, the doctor may use ultrasound to guide the needle. Freezing can be used to minimize discomfort, although it is not always necessary. The samples obtained are sent to the pathology department of the hospital for analysis. If the pathology report indicates that the sample contains cancerous cells, the physician will probably recommend a partial or total thyroidectomy. However, FNAB biopsy results can be inconclusive. In that case, the biopsy should be repeated. If the FNAB biopsy shows no suspicious features, continued monitoring may be required.
Disclaimer: The information contained on this website does not constitute medical advice. Visitors are encouraged to work closely with their doctors to make sure that their individual medical needs are met. The Canadian Thyroid Cancer Support Group (Thry'vors) Inc. does not endorse any product, treatment, service or practitioner and is not responsible for the quality of the information or services offered by other organizations or websites.
© Canadian Thyroid Cancer Support Group (Thry'vors) Inc.