A Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration versus Core Needle Biopsy for Thyroid Nodules: Pain, Tolerability, and Complications

Eun Ji Jeong; Sae Rom Chung; Jung Hwan Baek; Young Jun Choi; Jae Kyun Kim; Jeong Hyun Lee

doi:10.3803/EnM.2018.33.1.114

A Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration versus Core Needle Biopsy for Thyroid Nodules: Pain, Tolerability, and Complications

Endocrinol Metab (Seoul). 2018 Mar;33(1):114-120. doi: 10.3803/EnM.2018.33.1.114.

Authors

Eun Ji Jeong^#¹, Sae Rom Chung^#¹, Jung Hwan Baek², Young Jun Choi¹, Jae Kyun Kim³, Jeong Hyun Lee¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
² Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. radbaek@naver.com.
³ Department of Radiology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: To compare pain, tolerability, and complications associated with fine needle aspiration (FNA) versus core needle biopsy (CNB).

Methods: FNAs were performed using 23-gauge needles and CNBs were performed using 18-gauge double-action spring-activated needles in 100 patients for each procedure. Patients were asked to record a pain score using a 10-cm visual analog scale and procedure tolerability. Complications and number of biopsies were recorded.

Results: The median pain scores were similar for the FNA and CNB approaches during and 20 minutes after the biopsy procedures (3.7 vs. 3.6, P=0.454; 0.9 vs. 1.1, P=0.296, respectively). The procedure was tolerable in all 100 FNA patients and in 97 CNB patients (P=0.246). The mean number of biopsies was fewer in the CNB group (1.4 vs. 1.2, P=0.002). By subgroup analysis (staff vs. non-staff), no significant difference was detected in any parameter. There were no major complications in either group, but three patients who underwent CNB had minor complications (P=0.246).

Conclusion: FNA and CNB show no significant differences for diagnosing thyroid nodules in terms of pain, tolerability, or complications.

Keywords: Biopsy, fine-needle; Biopsy, large-core needle; Safety; Thyroid nodule.