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HEARING SERVICES |
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Fine Needle Aspiration
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What Is FNA?
Fine needle
aspiration (FNA)
is a technique
that allows a
biopsy of
various bumps
and lumps. It
allows your
otolaryngologist
to retrieve
enough tissue
for microscopic
analysis and
thus make an
accurate
diagnosis of a
number of
problems, such
as inflammation
or even cancer.
FNA Is Used for
Diagnosis In:
- Neck lymph
nodes
- Neck cysts
- Parotid
gland
- Thyroid
gland
- Inside the
mouth
- Any lump
that can be
felt
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Why Is
It
Important?
A
mass or
lump
sometimes
indicates
a
serious
problem,
such as
a growth
or
cancer*.
While
this is
not
always
the
case,
the
presence
of a
mass may
require
FNA for
diagnosis.
Your
age,
sex, and
habits,
such as
smoking
and
drinking,
are also
important
factors
that
help
diagnosis
of a
mass.
Symptoms
of ear
pain,
increased
difficulty
swallowing,
weight
loss, or
a
history
of
familial
thyroid
disorder
or of
previous
skin
cancer (squamous
cell
carcinoma)
may be
important
as well.
*
When
found
early,
most
cancers
in the
head and
neck can
be cured
with
relatively
little
difficulty.
Cure
rates
for
these
cancers
are
greatly
improved
if
people
seek
medical
advice
as soon
as
possible.
So play
it safe.
If you
have a
lump in
your
head and
neck
area,
see your
otolaryngologist
right
away.
What Are
Some
Areas
that Can
be
Biopsied
In This
Fashion?
FNA
is
generally
used for
diagnosis
in areas
such as
the neck
lymph
nodes or
for
cysts in
the
neck.
The
parotid
gland
(the
mumps
gland),
thyroid
gland,
and
other
areas
inside
the
mouth or
throat
can be
aspirated
as well.
Virtually
any lump
or bump
that can
be felt
(palpated)
can be
biopsied
using
the FNA
technique. |
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How Is It Done?
Your doctor will
insert a small needle
into the mass. Negative
pressure is created in
the syringe, and as a
result of this pressure
difference between the
syringe and the mass,
cellular material can be
drawn into the syringe.
The needle is moved in a
to and fro fashion,
obtaining enough
material to make a
diagnosis. This
procedure is generally
accurate and frequently
prevents the patient
from having an open,
surgical biopsy, which
is more painful and
costly. The procedure
generally does not
require anesthesia. It
is about as painful as
drawing blood from the
arm for laboratory
testing (venipuncture).
In fact, the needle used
for FNA is smaller than
that used for
venipuncture. Although
not painless, any
discomfort associated
with FNA is usually
minimal.
What Are the
Complications of This
Procedure?
No medical procedure
is without risks. Due to
the small size of the
needle, the chance of
spreading a cancer or
finding cancer in the
needle path is very
small. Other
complications are rare;
the most common is
bleeding. If bleeding
occurs at all, it is
generally seen as a
small bruise. Patients
who take aspirin,
Advil®, or blood
thinners, such as Coumadin®, are more at
risk to bleed. However,
the risk is minimal.
Infection is rarely
seen. |
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©
Arnaldo Garro, M.D. 2006
Any information provided on this
Web site should not be considered medical advice or a substitute for a
consultation with a physician. If you have a medical problem, contact your
local physician for diagnosis and
treatment.
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juan
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