title: Modified technique for fine needle aspiration biopsy that eliminates needle manipulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a modified technique of fine needle aspiration biopsy that eliminates needle manipulation after aspiration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fine needle aspiration biopsy of 112 palpable lesions was performed using both the conventional and modified techniques. Cellularity, cell preservation and diagnostic yield of the new procedure were compared to those of the conventional technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cytologic smears prepared from each method were comparable in quality, quantity and diagnostic yield.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The modified approach eliminates the hazard of needle manipulation without diminishing the diagnostic efficacy of fine needle aspiration biopsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Olive View-University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Acosta
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hilborne
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Phillipson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: DeGregorio
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ostrzega
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009339:Needles