Indications for thyroid FNA and pre‐FNA requirements: A synopsis of the National Cancer Institute Thyroid Fine‐Needle Aspiration State of the Science Conference

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Abstract
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsored the NCI Thyroid Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA) State of the Science Conference on October 22–23, 2007 in Bethesda, MD. The 2-day meeting was accompanied by a permanent informational website and several on-line discussions between May 1 and December 15, 2007 (http://thyroidfna.cancer.gov). This document summarizes the indications for performing an FNA of a nodule discovered by physical examination or an imaging study; the indications for using ultrasound versus palpation for guidance when performing a thyroid FNA; the issues surrounding informed consent for thyroid FNA; and the information required on a requisition form that accompanies a thyroid FNA specimen. (http://thyroidfna.cancer.gov/pages/info/agenda/) Diagn. Cytopathol. 2008;36:390–399.