[The role of fine needle biopsy in diagnosis of thyroid cancer]

The majority of changes in the structure and consistency of the thyroid gland is a clear indication for fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). This does not mean, however, that cytological evaluation provides an unequivocal diagnostic confirmation for every pathological change found by palpation or by imaging technology. The main purpose of FNAB is to differentiate the type of examined pathological lesion (i.e. neoplastic or non-neoplastic) and to help in the selection of appropriate therapy. The diagnoses obtained by FNAB may be divided into five categories. FNAB plays the key role in the diagnostics of papillary and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.