Health Information
Thyroid Biopsy
Test Overview
A thyroid
Reference biopsy Opens New Window is a procedure in which a small sample of
tissue is removed from the
Reference thyroid gland Opens New Window and looked at under a microscope for
cancer, infection, or other thyroid problems. The
Reference thyroid gland Opens New Window Reference 
Opens New Window is found in front of the windpipe (trachea), just below the voice
box (larynx).
A sample of thyroid tissue can be taken by:
- Fine-needle biopsy. Your doctor puts a thin needle through the skin and into the thyroid gland. Many thyroid specialists like to use a needle biopsy method rather than surgery.
- Open biopsy. Your doctor makes a cut (incision) through the skin to see the thyroid gland. This method is done when other tests have not found the cause of your symptoms.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference May 31, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology |
|
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