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Case Reports
. 2022 Sep 28;14(9):e29710.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.29710. eCollection 2022 Sep.

Extracapsular Cervical Hematoma After Thyroid Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology

Sara Correia  1 , Diogo Ramalho  2 , Gustavo Rocha  1 , Maria J Oliveira  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Extracapsular Cervical Hematoma After Thyroid Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology

Sara Correia et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a safe and well-tolerated procedure with high sensitivity and specificity. Serious complications, such as large hematomas, are very rare and should be promptly identified. We present an unusual case of a 71-year-old woman with a massive cervical hematoma that developed near the thyroid capsule after the FNAC of a nodule. CT showed a hematoma measuring 38 x 34 mm, causing deviation of the laryngotracheal axis. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit for intubation and surgical drainage. This case illustrates that FNAC, despite being considered a safe procedure with infrequent complications, carries the risk of acute life-threatening events that should be taken into account.

Keywords: aspirative thyroid cytology; cervical hematoma; intratracheal intubation; nodule; thyroid.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Left latero-cervical hematoma 38 x 34 mm compressing the upper airway
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