When to get help Locations Abbotsford-Regional Hospital 604-851-4866 Call your doctor if you have any of the Medical Imaging 2nd Floor, Fraser Wing following: 32900 Marshall Road, Abbotsford BC Cancer Agency 604-877-6000 rd Fever above 38.5°C (101°F), aches, and Medical Imaging, 3 Floor chills 600 West 10th Ave, Vancouver Burnaby Hospital 604-434-4211 Increased pain or any redness at or Medical Imaging, 3rd Floor around the biopsy site 3935 Kincaid St., Burnaby Ultrasound Chilliwack General Hospital 604-795-4122 Medical Imaging, Main Floor Go to the nearest Emergency 45600 Menholm Rd, Chilliwack Guided Thyroid Department if you have any of the Delta Hospital 604-946-1121 following: Medical Imaging, 5800 Mountain View Boulevard, Delta Biopsy Jim Pattison Outpatient Care 604-533-3308 Swelling of the neck and Surgery Centre ext. 63926 Medical Imaging, 2nd Floor Severe weakness 9750 140th Street, Surrey Lions Gate Hospital 604-984-5775 Trouble breathing Medical Imaging, Lower Level th Trouble swallowing 231 East 15 Street, North Vancouver Peace Arch Hospital 604-531-5512 Medical Imaging, Main Floor 15521 Russell Ave, White Rock Richmond Hospital 604-278-9711 Medical Imaging, Main Floor 7000 Westminster Hwy, Richmond Ridge Meadows Hospital 604-463-1800 Medical Imaging, Main Floor 11666 Laity Street, Maple Ridge St. Paul’s Hospital 604-806-8006 Medical Imaging, 2nd Floor, Providence Building 1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver Surrey Memorial Hospital 604-588-3308 st Medical Imaging, 1 Floor, Lower Level th 13750 96 Avenue, Surrey HealthLinkBC 8-1-1 UBC Hospital 604-822-7076 Medical Imaging, Main Floor Call any time you have any questions or concerns. 2211 Westbrook Mall, Vancouver HealthLinkBC is open 24 hours. Follow–up Instructions/Appointment: Vancouver General Hospital 604-875-4111 Available in 130 languages. For an interpreter, say GI/GU Department, Jim Pattison Pavilion Ext 68612 your language in English. Wait until an interpreter Station 5, Ground Floor comes on the phone. 855 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver www.fraserhealth.ca – www.vch.ca This information does not replace the advice given to you by your health care provider. December 2015 FH Catalogue # 264602 VCH Catalogue # ED.200.T55 What is an Ultrasound Guided Thyroid You might need to arrange for a Does it hurt? Biopsy? ‘responsible adult’ to take you home It might sting or burn as the numbing A biopsy is a way of taking a small piece of after this procedure. medicine is injected. You should not feel tissue, in this case, from your thyroid. We Check with the site where you are any pain as the needle goes in. However, use ultrasound images to locate the spot to scheduled for your biopsy. you might feel some pressure and biopsy. A thyroid biopsy is done to check discomfort as the tissue sample is taken. for any abnormalities seen on other tests such as an ultrasound, CT scan, or How long will it take? Are there any risks or complications? nuclear medicine scan. It takes about 1 hour. Most people go home A thyroid biopsy is generally a safe right afterwards. procedure. Complications are rare. Who does the biopsy? Any time the skin is pierced or cut, there It is done by a radiologist (a doctor who What happens during the biopsy? is a chance of infection. Other possible specializes in image guided procedures). The radiologist uses ultrasound to confirm complications include: the location of the biopsy and the safest Can I bring a relative or friend? - bleeding at the site approach. Yes, they can stay with you before and - bleeding into the surrounding tissue You are given numbing medicine to ‘freeze’ after the procedure. However, for reasons - trouble swallowing or breathing the area where the biopsy needle goes of safety and regulations, they cannot be in through the skin. You can ask questions about the risks the room during the procedure. We will tell before you sign the consent form. you where family members can wait. You might feel some pressure when the biopsy needle is inserted. When will I get the results? What happens before the biopsy? We will ask you to stop swallowing and The radiologist can tell you if there is Our Medical Imaging Department contacts stay very still during the procedure. enough tissue for testing. you with specific instructions on how to prepare for the biopsy. Once done and the biopsy needle is To find out the results of the test, make removed, we put pressure over the area to an appointment with the doctor who Your doctor will tell you which stop any bleeding. asked for this test. medications you must stop taking before the biopsy. Ultrasound Guided Thyroid Biopsy over… .