FNA QUESTION

[blksapphire]

I am going in for a FNA consult.
What type of questions should I ask before they do the biopsy?
I want to have my questions ready.

Thank you in advance.

BTW: Stella did you have to get the FNA?

Take care
Terri

[4helen]

Had 2 US FNAs recently done on a 4cm nod; 1st inconcl, 2nd resulting in a reading dispute between 2 diff pathologists. Very important to feel trust as Stella correctly highlights, so do ask about their experience----that matters for successful material collection. I told the Rad right up front about my fear, and I think that helped us both; Rads do it all the time so may forget about the novelty effect an FNA has on patients. I wasn't offered numbing or xanax (lucky you AfricanGrey!) but did not find it painful. If you've had a child -no worries! Felt bit like a scratch --- he took 3 'scratches' - took no more than 10 mins- a cute bandaid to go home with. It was a few days in waiting for results (which don't always let you off the hook so to speak - something I had not appreciated). Good luck; it feels so much better once it is done, as the waiting for it to happen is super rotten--perhaps not helped by the misleading anticipation of the 'N' in the test name---let the 'F' word relax your mind as it is fine (needle) indeed! No pun intended but....my bf kept me cheerie in advising the ol' stand up line oft muttered here---'lie back and think of England'---which worked a treat because the Rad was super dishy. lol! Both my FNAs earned a hot cocoa. Think of a nice treat to give yourself after!   : )  

[blksapphire]

Thank you so much,  this is a big help and i greatly appreciate it.  I go today for my consult.  I have a questions to ask.

[AfricanGrey]

I just had a consultation and my endo told me these things:

He has done over 800 ultrasound assisted thyroid biopsies
I would be given Xanax to relax me 45 mins before the procedure
He would numb me and that it would not hurt
I would feel nothing during the biopsy
It would take about 12 minutes (I have one large nodule-about an inch and 1/4 in diameter)

That's all I can offer.  I will be going through this myself the 18th!

[blksapphire]

con't:

When the endo did the u/s in his office, the u/s picked up two nodules
one was 0.8 cm hypoechoic and the other 0.8....this was I think 11/07

I went for a 2nd u/s 1/09 and that u/s found 3 nodules.
1) 0.4 x 0.4 x 0.4 hypoechoic solid     inferior on the right lobe

2)0.3 x 0.5 x .5 cm lower left
3) 1.0 x 0.9 x 0.5 cm upper left

[blksapphire]

Hi Stella and thanks for the input

I go for the consult tomorrow. 2/3
the endo wants a U/S guided of 1.0 cm
and upper lobe hypoechoic nodule

[stella5349]

Yes I went in March of 08

When I went I asked about how skill the person was doing it?

I asked about the procedure in detail?

I wanted that sense of trust while in there - prior to going in there, You know what I mean?

I believe and been told - my situation is way complex than the average FNA patient - so I am not a good candidate to be offering much.


Terri - When is your appt ??  Who's doing the procedure?