Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity Complicating Thyroid Biopsy

The overdiagnosis of thyroid malignancies may be contributing to the increased incidence of these cancers with a relatively stable mortality rate. We present the case of a man with known malignancies, who underwent biopsy of a suspicious thyroid nodule. This procedure was complicated by local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST). It is important to address goals of diagnostic testing and treatment with patients, particularly if further evaluation is unlikely to change management or outcomes.