Fine-Needle
Aspiration (FNA) of the breast
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What is the
test?
A doctor can do fine needle aspiration in the
office by inserting a slender needle into the
area of concern and drawing out (aspirating)
either fluid from a cyst or a small amount of
tissue from a solid mass. Cells from a mass,
and sometimes fluid from a cyst, is then sent
for microscopic evaluation to determine whether
cancer is present. Fine needle aspiration is
most commonly used to drain a breast cyst that
feels tender or sore. If the cyst is a simple
cyst (one that looks clear in an ultrasound exam)
and isn't tender, it doesn't require aspiration.
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How
do I prepare for the test?
Tell your doctor if you're allergic to lidocaine
or similar local anesthetics. Otherwise, no preparation
is necessary.
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What
happens when the test is performed?
You wear a hospital gown or undress from the
waist up.After examining your breast to feel
the lump and cleaning your skin with alcohol
and other disinfectants, the doctor may inject
a local anesthetic, but even without this numbing
medicine, you should feel little pain. Next,
he or she gently pinches your breast to hold
the lump steady while taking the biopsy. The
needle is attached to a syringe, a suction device
that "aspirates" or pulls tissue into the needle.
To get a good sample, the doctor moves the needle
in and out of the lump several times.
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What
risks are there from the test?
You might have a small amount of bruising in
the area of the breast that was sampled and some
mild soreness afterward.
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Must
I do anything special after the test is over?
No.
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How
long is it before the result of the test is
known?
Your doctor should have a final report in a
few days. If the cells removed during aspiration
are not cancerous but the lump feels questionable
or appears suspicious on a mammogram or ultrasound,
the doctor may recommend further testing with
a large core needle biopsy or surgical biopsy.
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