The purpose of this test is to collect cells from the nodule in order to find out whether it is cancer or benign. A FNA can be done in a doctor's office and usually takes 15-45 minutes. It is done with a small needle and usually requires 4-6 sticks into the nodule to obtain enough material. The cells obtained from the needle aspiration are then examined by a pathologist to determine if cancer is present. Though discussing an FNA may cause anxiety at first, an FNA causes only minimal discomfort in most people.
Complications are exceedingly rare.
It is performed by giving a person a radioisotope and then taking a special picture to see how much of the radioisotope is taken up by the thyroid gland. This picture can provide information about how the thyroid is functioning. These two radioisotopes provide better resolution and deliver a lower radiation dose to the thyroid. There are no known health effects produced by the low doses given for these scans. Thyroid nuclear scans are not helpful in evaluating the majority of nodules because most benign nodules and cancerous nodules produce an identical scan picture.