title: A method of teaching fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid gland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To design an in vitro method of teaching the technique of fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid gland.
  
  
  METHODS
  A "resuscitation" manikin is used to simulate an adult patient and a thyroid gland is placed on the manikin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The gland can be examined and aspirated. Subsequent microscopic evaluation permits the correlation of aspiration technique and specimen adequacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This in vitro method should shorten the learning process for a novice aspirator and may help reduce the rate of inadequate specimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Calgary General Hospital, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Jadusingh
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D003585:Cell Biology / Q000193:education*; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000166:cytology*