What
is a Fine Needle Aspiration?
A very thin needle (thinner than those used for drawing blood) is used to remove some
cells from a lump. The pathologist will analyze those cells are analyzed under the microscope. Usually, a lump
must be sampled several times in order to obtain enough cells for analysis.
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Why perform a Fine Needle Aspiration?
Often doctors need a sample of a lump (along with other tests) so they can recommend the
best treatment. Because an FNA is much easier on a patient than a surgical biopsy, it is
often one of the first tests a doctor orders.
Sometimes doctors use the information from an FNA to decide whether or not to perform
surgery. In other cases, a surgeon may use the information to decide what type of
treatment or follow-up procedures are necessary.
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What will I have to do on the day of
the procedure?
On the day of your appointment, you will need to register at the admitting desk, just
inside the main entrance to the hospital. Admissions will direct you to the
laboratory.
Will I need to
fast or do anything
special before this procedure?
No, you do not need to do anything special to prepare for the FNA
Who performs FNAs?
A physician additionally trained in pathology and in FNA will perform the procedure in an exam room next to the
hospital laboratory.
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Does the procedure hurt?
That is a difficult question to answer, because everyone experiences pain differently.
However, because such a thin needle is used, most patients do not find this procedure very
uncomfortable. In fact, we do not usually use a local anesthetic because most patients
tell us that receiving the local anesthetic stings more than the procedure
itself.
After the procedure, we will cover the site with a dressing and you can expect to resume
your normal activities immediately.
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Is this procedure safe?
Fine needle aspiration is a very safe procedure. The most frequent complication is
bruising and a collection of blood (hematoma) under the skin. You can expect to have some
mild pain around the lump for a day or two after the procedure. If needed, you may use a
pain reliever such as Tylenol.
If the procedure is performed on your neck, on very rare occasions, a large hematoma may
lead to difficulty breathing or swallowing. It this happens, or if you experience a great
deal of swelling (no matter where the procedure is performed), you should contact your
doctor or go to Urgent Care or an Emergency Department.
How will I find out the results of
this procedure?
We usually fax a report of the results to your doctor by the end of the business day
following the procedure. Your doctor will then be able to help you interpret the results.
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I was told this lump was benign. What does
that mean?
That means we have not detected any cancer in the lump. Although FNA is a useful
diagnostic procedure, like other medical tests, it is not perfect. Because such a small
sample is taken from a lump (which is the reason FNAs are relatively painless), it
is possible that the cells we collect do not represent the entire lump. Studies have shown
that the chances of failing to find a cancer when one is present are between
one-in-a-hundred and one-in-twenty. For this reason, you and your physician must still
watch lumps that are reported to be benign.
Will I have to repeat this procedure?
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we do not obtain enough cells for an accurate
analysis, and we will report that the findings are "non-diagnostic."
Occasionally lumps persist or enlarge. In either case, your doctor may decide to either
repeat the FNA, or follow another course of action.
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What if I have other questions?
When you arrive for your appointment, we will try to answer any questions you may have
about FNA. If you would like to contact us before we meet, or if you need to schedule your
appointment, please call 651-220-8701.
This
information is provided as educational purposes only and is no substitute
for specific medical advice.
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