Needle aspiration for thyroid nodules

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Although ultrasound is commonly used in the evaluation of thyroid nodules, it neither confirms nor excludes the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Needle aspiration, however, reliably differentiates cystic from solid or mixed nodules. Dr Hamburger encourages primary care physicians to perform needle aspiration on nodules found during palpation, to aspirate simple cysts themselves and save the cost of ultrasound studies, and to refer patients with solid nodules to a thyroidologist for needle biopsy.