Cytological testing and diagnosis by fine needle aspiration (FNA) (LYMPH NODE, THYROID GLAND, BREAST)

Cytological testing and diagnosis by fine needle aspiration (FNA) (Lymph Nodes, Thyroid glands, Breast) is a simple technique that uses a small gauge needle to collect cellular material or tissue fluid from abnormal lesions or tumors in the patient’s body. This procedure is used for diagnosing cancer, monitoring cancer recurrence, evaluating benign lesions, or aspirating fluid to treat cysts. This test is indicated for lesions that are visible or palpable during clinical examination or for deeper subcutaneous lesions using ultrasound guidance. After aspiration, the clinician directly smears the cells onto slides, fixes them immediately in containers with 96% Ethanol, and sends them to the Pathology Laboratory for analysis. Once the cellular sample is collected, the pathologist examines, analyzes, and evaluates the morphology and structure of the cells under a microscope in order to determine whether the tumor or lesion is benign, malignant, or suspicious for malignancy, allowing the clinicians to develop an appropriate treatment plan for the patient.
Advantages of the FNA Technique:
- Quick procedure: Typically completed within 15–20 minutes.
- Minimally painful: Causes little discomfort and rarely results in bruising or hematoma; anesthesia is usually unnecessary.
- Minimally invasive: No skin incision required, reducing the risk of scarring.
- Simple requirements: Does not require complex equipment and can be repeated if needed.
- High accuracy: In thyroid biopsies, FNA demonstrates an average sensitivity of over 80% and specificity exceeding 90%.
At Diag, we accommodate patients for direct examination and do FNA at our clinic. Additionally, we accept FNAC slides prepared by clinicians and sent to our Pathology Laboratory for processing and diagnostic analysis.