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Thyroid excisional biopsy |
| Definition: |
| The thyroid is a gland in front of the trachea (windpipe) at the top of the neck. In an excisional biopsy, a small section of thyroid tissue is removed for examination. |
| Alternative Names: |
| Open incisional biopsy; Thyroid biopsy |
| How the test is performed: |
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The test is done in a hospital operating room under a general anesthesia. A sedative is usually given by injection about 1 hour before the procedure. An intravenous (IV) line is placed in a vein, usually in your arm. Throughout the procedure, you are given a mixture of anesthetic gas and oxygen through a hollow tube that is inserted through your mouth and into the trachea that leads to the lungs. A small incision is made in your neck and either one half of the thyroid, or a part of the thyroid lump is removed. The sample is sent to the laboratory to be examined while you are still on the operating table. If thyroid cancer is present, the remainder of the thyroid gland is removed. The incision is then closed with stitches. |
| How to prepare for the test: |
| Inform the doctor of any drug allergies you have, which medications you are taking, if you have bleeding problems, and if you are pregnant. You must sign a consent form. You will be asked not to eat or drink for 8 to 12 hours before the biopsy. Infants and children: The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:
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| How the test will feel: |
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There will be a prick with the sedative injection. When you wake up after the procedure, you will feel drowsy for several hours. You may have a mild sore throat from the tube. There will be some discomfort from the biopsy site. |
| Why the test is performed: |
| This is a test for cancer. |
| Normal Values: |
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The thyroid tissue is normal in structure and no cancer is found on microscopic examination of the thyroid gland. |
| What abnormal results mean: |
| Abnormal results may mean thyroid cancer, noncancerous tumors, or diffuse thyroid disease. Additional conditions under which the test may be performed: |
| What the risks are: |
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The main risk is bleeding into the thyroid gland, which is treated with cold compresses. Rarely, injury to the nerves that innervate the vocal cords can occur, which can cause a hoarse voice. Injury to the parathyroid glands can also occur, which may cause alterations in calcium metabolism. |
| Special considerations: |
| Not applicable. |
Reviewed By: Robert O’Rourke, M.D., Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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