Guideline Recommendations for Thyroid Nodule Fine‑Needle Aspiration
Who May Perform the Procedure (Guideline Stance)
- Endocrinology societies’ guidelines on thyroid nodule management and FNA indications explicitly state that the procedure is not limited to any specific specialty; qualified physicians from endocrinology, otolaryngology, surgery, or radiology may perform it. [1][2]3
Indications for Performing FNA
- Current guidelines recommend performing fine‑needle aspiration on thyroid nodules greater than 1 cm when they exhibit suspicious ultrasonographic features (e.g., microcalcifications, irregular margins, hypoechogenicity). 4
Referral for Surgical Management
- When cytology results are classified as Bethesda V or VI (malignant or highly suspicious), patients should be referred directly to an endocrine surgeon for total or near‑total thyroidectomy. 5