Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) biopsy is a safe, rapid, minimally invasive procedure for the diagnosis of superficial masses. It frequently reduces the need for additional testing and helps triage patient care in an effective and timely manner.
The indications for doing a fine needle aspiration biopsy are superficial masses in the thyroid, head and neck, salivary glands, lymph nodes, breast, and extremities/trunk. Often it is the fastest, easiest test to rule in or out malignancy, while being minimally invasive and cost effective.
With recent advances in ancillary testing, such as flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and molecular studies, FNA can help diagnose, for example, a metastatic carcinoma or lymphoma much faster than more invasive methods. Just as laproscopic surgical techniques are reducing patient complications and improving outcomes, an FNA diagnosis cost effectively reduces patient morbidity and anxiety, as well as expediting appropriate and specific care.
Too often, doctors are left with non-diagnostic results that lead to repeat biopsies, doctor frustration and patient dissatisfaction. Using a Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) specialist will mitigate these problems and lead to better overall results.
When FNA is performed and interpreted by the same person, an experienced Board Certified Cytopathologist, a diagnosis can be obtained in 95-97 % of the cases (traditional surgical biopsy has a 98% diagnostic accuracy rate). Of the pathologists in California, less than 10% are Certified Cytopathologists by the American Board of Pathology.