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What is fine-needle aspiration?
Fine-needle aspiration is a method of collecting cells from the
breast
, liver, mouth, neck,
lymph nodes, genitals, respiratory tract, or
thyroid to look for signs of cancer, infection, or
other conditions. A health professional inserts a thin needle into a lump and
withdraws a sample of cells or fluid. The material is then examined under a
microscope.
Fine-needle aspiration may be the only test you need to find out
whether a lump is cancerous; however, in some cases you may have another
procedure, such as a core needle biopsy or an open biopsy. In a core needle
biopsy, you will have
local anesthetic to numb the area. The doctor places
the core needle—which is larger than the needle used in an aspiration—into the
lump. Then he or she takes out a thin section of tissue, rather than a few
cells. In an open biopsy, a doctor uses a surgical knife to remove a sample of
tissue. An open biopsy may be done in the operating room, with or without a
general anesthetic.
How is a fine-needle aspiration done?
Your health professional will wipe the area with rubbing alcohol
or iodine. In some cases, you may receive an injection of local anesthetic to
numb the skin. Your health professional will hold the lump steady with one hand
and insert a thin needle (attached to a syringe) into the lump. He or she may
move the needle in and out of the area to make sure to get enough tissue or
fluid for the biopsy. Then, he or she pulls on the plunger of the syringe to
remove the tissue or fluid. The process takes a few seconds to a few
minutes.
If a health professional cannot easily feel the mass, you may
have an imaging test, such as a
CT scan,
ultrasound test,
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or
mammography to see where to put the needle. In this
case, a doctor known as a
radiologist may do the aspiration. If the lump is a
cyst, the fluid is removed, and the lump usually goes
away.
How will it feel?
If you receive a local anesthetic, you may feel a brief sting
when it is injected. You also may feel some pressure when the biopsy needle is
inserted. The amount of discomfort will depend on how much pain you feel from
needles, the part of your body involved, and the skill of the health
professional. The site of the fine-needle aspiration may be sore for a couple
of days, and you may have a bruise. You should be able to return to work the
same day or the next day.
What happens afterward?
Your health professional will apply pressure to the aspiration
site to prevent bleeding and put an adhesive bandage on it. He or she may
recommend that you take a mild pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol)
or ibuprofen (Advil), if you have discomfort when you get home. Keep the area
dry for 24 hours.
Contact your health professional if you have bleeding, redness,
swelling, or a fever of more than
100.5
°F (38.1
°C) over the next
couple of days.