Fine-needle aspiration. Why it deserves another look.
Fine-needle aspiration of solid tumors other than cervical neoplasms has, until recently, been held in low esteem by US physicians. Its disfavor is undeserved, contend the authors of this article, who base their opinion on the findings from 545 aspirations done over a two-year period. They assert that in experienced hands, in the appropriate setting, and with discriminate use, this diagnostic technique yields accurate results safely and rapidly.
D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis