fine needle aspiration (FNA)/biopsy

Introduction

Aspiration or biopsy of tissue by insertion of a long thin needle. The procedure may be performed under fluoroscopic guidance.

Indications

• head & neck neoplasm
  • thyroid nodule
  • salivary gland neoplasm
  • head & neck cancer
• breast mass
• liver mass
• aspiration of abscess
• evaluation of hemangioma
• incidentaloma (adrenal adenoma)
• solitary pulmonary nodule

Contraindications

• lymph node biopsy (use excisional biopsy)
• evaluation of breast cancer (use core or excisional biopsy)

More general terms

• aspiration (procedure)
• tissue biopsy

More specific terms

• amniocentesis
• fine needle aspiration orbit
• transbronchial needle aspiration
• upper gastrointestinal endoscopic ultrasound-guided FNA