title: Fine needle aspiration.
abstract: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) has been widely used as a diagnostic tool for the past half century. Differing from large bore cutting needle biopsy, FNA utilizes 22- to 27-gauge needles. The cell samples aspirated from a lesion are characteristically smeared on glass slides for immediate microscopic evaluation. An adequacy report and a preliminary diagnostic impression are rendered in approximately 10 to 15 minutes. A final report is generally rendered within 24 hours. The method has been used as one of the most cost-effective, complication-free, and rapid techniques for preoperative investigation of tumors and tumor-like conditions. Its usefulness in the diagnosis and management of oncology patients is emphasized in this article.
authors.affiliation: Departament of Pathology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York 10029, USA. maoxin.wu@msuynhealth.org
authors.forename: Maoxin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Burstein
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D000075202:Contraindications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms