Thyroid Microbiopsy

Thyroid microbiopsy is performed under the same conditions as fine-needle aspiration biopsy (sterile environment, under ultrasound guidance). It is a moderately invasive technique that requires local anesthesia of the tissues surrounding the thyroid to ensure optimal conditions. The patient must sign a consent form prior to the procedure.

The practitioner ensures the patient has no coagulation disorders and isn't taking anticoagulation or antiplatelet medications, which would be a contraindication for microbiopsy.

Microbiopsy indications:

• Two fine-needle aspiration biopsies with a nondiagnostic (Bethesda I) or undetermined (Bethesda III) outcome.
• Discordance between the ultrasound findings (EU-TIRADS score) and the fine-needle aspiration biopsy results.
• Suspected of thyroidal metastases or a rare and aggressive disease.
• Before a thermal ablation procedure, if the second FNA biopsy is nondiagnostic.

Complications following a microbiopsy are rare (around 3 to 4%): hematoma, dysphonia, infection, edema, vasovagal syncope