Topic Overview
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 doctor 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. But 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 (about the size of a
pencil lead), 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 doctor
will wipe the area with rubbing alcohol or iodine. In most cases, you will
receive an injection of local anesthetic to numb the area of your breast where
the needle will be inserted. Your doctor 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 the doctor 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 doctor. 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 doctor 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 doctor if
you have bleeding, redness, swelling, or a fever of more than
100.5
°F (38.1
°C) over the next
couple of days.
