Abstract
Although fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of thyroid nodules is invasive, it
is simple, reliable, safe, and well-accepted by patients. Local pain and minor haematomas
are the most common complications, and serious ones are rare. We report the complications
associated with ultrasound-guided FNA of 7449 thyroid nodules in a series of 6323
patients (5121 women and 1202 men) treated between January 2007 and March 2016 at
our institution. We reviewed their medical and imaging records, and recorded the number
and type of complications, time of detection, time to recovery, management, and permanent
consequences. Ten patients (0.15%) had complications, which included a focal carotid
intramural haematoma that spread along the carotid wall for 7 cm in a young patient, and one case of tumour seeding. No complications caused permanent
problems. This series shows that ultrasound-guided FNA of thyroid lesions is safe
and has few complications. However, physicians should always consider the risks and
benefits for each patient before the procedure.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 06, 2016
Accepted:
November 22,
2016
Received:
August 18,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
