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What Is Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)?

Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) is a procedure in which a thin needle is used to collect a sample from tissue or an abnormal accumulation.

Why Is Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Performed?

  1. For Diagnostic Purposes (Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy):

A biopsy is a procedure used to collect a sample from tissue or a structure. The area to be biopsied is identified using ultrasound or CT imaging, cleaned, and then a thin needle is inserted into the lesion under ultrasound guidance to obtain a tissue sample.

Can Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Be Performed on Every Lesion?

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) can be used in almost every part of the body. However, it is most commonly applied to:

  • Breast

  • Thyroid

  • Lymph nodes

  • Liver

  • Lungs

  • Salivary glands

  • Pancreas

  • Kidneys

  • Soft tissues

It is preferred for sampling suspicious superficial or deep masses, abscesses, or areas of inflammation.

2. For Therapeutic Purposes:

FNA is also used to drain abscesses (pus accumulation), cysts (fluid-filled sacs), and similar fluid collections. The area to be treated is identified using ultrasound or CT imaging, cleaned, and then a thin needle is inserted into the lesion under ultrasound guidance. The fluid is then drained using the needle and syringe.

Who Should Undergo Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)?

1- Individuals with a lesion detected anywhere in the body that is considered suspicious for cancer.

2- Patients with a collection such as a cyst or abscess (for diagnosis, treatment, and bacteriological examination).

What Are the Risks of Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)?

1- Bleeding: Individuals with blood clotting disorders and/or those using anticoagulants are at the highest risk.

2- Pain and bruising at the injection site.

3- Infection.

4- Damage to surrounding structures.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION?

  1. Since it is performed with a fine needle, the risk of complications is low.

  2. It is a fast and effective diagnostic method.

  3. The patient can return to normal daily activities immediately after the procedure.

DOES FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION ALWAYS PROVIDE RESULTS?

Although fine needle aspiration biopsy is considered a reliable and accurate procedure, it has certain limitations:

Sampling error or insufficiency:
The obtained biopsy sample may not fully represent the lesion or may be insufficient for diagnosis. Performing the procedure under imaging guidance minimizes this risk. However, due to the lesion’s size, location, or nature, sampling error or inadequacy may still occur despite all efforts. In such cases, the procedure should be repeated, or alternative biopsy methods should be considered.

Evaluation errors:
The evaluation of fine needle aspiration biopsies should be performed by a pathologist experienced in cytopathology. If an evaluation error is suspected, obtaining a second opinion may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

False results:
Despite all precautions, there remains a small risk of false-positive or false-negative results.

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