Thyroid Fine Needle Biopsy and Impact on Pain and Diagnostic Adequacy (THY-BPSY)

July 28, 2026 updated by: Mehmet Yağtu, MD, Izmir Ataturk Training and Research Hospital

The Effect of Using Different Needle Sizes on Patient Comfort and Pain During the Sonographically Guided Fine Needle Biopsy of Thyroid Nodules: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized study compares patient pain and comfort during ultrasound-guided thyroid fine needle biopsy using 21-gauge versus 27-gauge needles. Patients with thyroid nodules were randomly assigned to one of two needle sizes. Pain intensity was measured immediately after the procedure using a 0-100 Visual Analog Scale. The study was conducted at İzmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital between January 2024 and March 2024. The aim is to determine which needle size causes less pain and better patient comfort during the biopsy procedure.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This prospective, randomized, single-blind clinical trial compares 21-gauge and 27-gauge needles for ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy of thyroid nodules. Participants are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio. The study aims to evaluate whether needle gauge affects patient pain and biopsy performance. Detailed eligibility criteria, outcome measures, and statistical analyses are provided in their respective sections.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

159

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Izmir, Turkey (Türkiye), 35620
        • İzmir Atatürk Training and Education Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Thyroid nodules requiring ultrasound-guided FNB with a maximum diameter ≥10 mm,
  • Intraglandular nodules with relatively central location within the thyroid gland

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patient refusal to provide informed consent,
  • History of bleeding tendency or use of anticoagulant medication,
  • Substernal or subclavicular localization of the lesion in cases of large goiter.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 21-gauge needle group
Patients received ultrasound-guided thyroid fine needle biopsy using 21-gauge needle
Procedure: Thyroid fine needle biopsy with 21-gauge needle
4. Ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy performed using a 21-gauge needle for thyroid nodule cytology
Experimental: 27-gauge needle group
Patients received ultrasound-guided thyroid fine needle biopsy using 27-gauge needle
Procedure: Thyroid fine needle biopsy with 27-gauge needle
Ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy performed using a 27-gauge needle for thyroid nodule cytology

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Pain score immediately after biopsy
Time Frame: In 5 minutes after the procedure
Pain intensity measured using 100-mm Visual Analog Scale immediately after completion of ultrasound-guided thyroid fine needle biopsy. Higher scores indicate worse pain
In 5 minutes after the procedure

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Diagnostic Adequacy Rate.
Time Frame: Time Frame: Within 14 days after biopsy
Percentage of biopsy specimens considered adequate for cytopathological evaluation according to the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology
Time Frame: Within 14 days after biopsy

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Izmir Ataturk Training and Research Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 19, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 30, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

March 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 22, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 1, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 30, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 28, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 0001-2024

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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