Published online May 24, 2024. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v15.i5.580
Revised: January 29, 2024
Accepted: April 10, 2024
Published online: May 24, 2024
Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration is the standard for evaluating thyroid nodules with a high safety profile and a relatively low number of non-diagnostic cytological findings. Nevertheless, this diagnostic method traditionally has its weak points. Several diagnostic categories such as Bethesda I, III and IV are not reliable for thyroid carcinoma risk assessment. Recent advancements in a core needle biopsy made it possible to use this tool as a new method for thyroid nod
Core Tip: Modern oncology is largely based on histopathological examination of preoperative specimens. However, decision to perform thyroid surgery is based on results of fine-needle aspiration cytology. It is considered that core-needle biopsy is an invasive procedure for an abundantly vascularized gland. Advances in technical construction of automatic and semi-automatic guns has led to the possibility of safe and efficient obtainment of thyroid histological specimens before surgery. Ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy is now a widely implemented procedure in difficult and dubious cases of thyroid neoplasia owing to the advances in thyroid imaging. The latest advances in this field demonstrate that core-needle biopsy is a safe procedure that can decrease the number of unnecessary thyroid surgery and can provide additional information in doubtful cases.