American Thyroid Association Recommendations for Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA) Biopsy.3
| Clinical or Sonographic Nodule Features | Size at which FNA is Recommended |
|---|---|
| Increased risk medical history: family history of thyroid cancer, personal history of prior thyroid cancer, head or neck radiation | >5 mm |
| Sonographic or clinically suspicious cervical lymphadenopathy | All |
| Presence of microcalcifications | ≥1.0 cm |
| Purely cystic nodule | FNA not recommended |
| Spongiform nodule | ≥2.0 cm or continued monitoring |
| Mixed cystic and solid nodule | ≥1.5 cm if suspicious sonographic features present, otherwise ≥2.0 cm |
| Solid nodule | ≥1.0 cm |