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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
10:19
Substernal Thyroid Biopsy Using Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration
Published on: November 10, 2014
Histopathological changes in thyroid tissue after fine needle aspiration biopsy
Filiz Bolat1, Fazilet Kayaselcuk, Tark Z Nursal
1Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Ankara, Turkey. drfilizbolat@yahoo.com
Pathology, Research and Practice
|June 22, 2007
Summary
Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the thyroid can cause histopathological changes like hemorrhage and fibrosis. Awareness of these FNAB-induced alterations is crucial for accurate thyroid lesion diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Pathology
- Endocrinology
- Surgical Oncology
Background:
- Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is a common diagnostic tool for thyroid lesions.
- FNAB can induce histopathological alterations in thyroid tissue due to needle trauma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare histopathological changes in thyroidectomy specimens after FNAB versus those without prior FNAB.
- To identify specific alterations caused by FNAB and assess their diagnostic implications.
Main Methods:
- Histopathological evaluation of 150 thyroidectomy specimens with prior FNAB and 150 control specimens.
- Assessment for specific features including hemorrhage, fibrosis, siderophagia, vascular thrombosis, papillary hyperplasia, and capsular distortion.
Main Results:
- Specimens with FNAB showed significantly higher rates of hemorrhage, siderophagia, granulation tissue, papillary hyperplasia, fibrosis, calcification, capsular distortion, cholesterol clefts, and vascular thrombosis.
- No significant differences were observed in vascular proliferation, nuclear atypia, mitosis, infarction, or metaplasia between groups.
Conclusions:
- FNAB induces significant, varied histopathological alterations in thyroid tissue.
- Understanding these FNAB-associated changes is essential for accurate differential diagnosis and avoiding misdiagnosis, particularly of carcinoma.
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