Aspiration Techniques

Daniel Gomes Pinto, Gary Tse, Puay Hoon Tan, Fernando Schmitt

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a minimally invasive, cost-effective technique with high diagnostic accuracy. In an era where medical care often relies on expensive and complex technology, FNAC runs opposite to this trend. It is a safe procedure, allows for rapid reporting and diagnosis, and demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of malignancy. In addition, this technique requires little equipment, causes minimal discomfort to the patients, can easily be performed as an outpatient procedure, and reduces bed occupancy and the incidence of additional surgical explorations. An aspiration can be performed during a routine doctor’s office or clinic visit or at the patient’s bedside. It requires practice and skill, however, both in the performance of the aspiration itself and in the interpretation of the results. The recently released Yokohama System for Reporting Breast Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy Cytopathology is a useful guide for practitioners without experience and interested in taking advantage. Implementation should take place slowly but surely. FNAC is a multistep procedure, and when all steps are done by a single person, the pathologist, final results are usually better. Correctly executed, FNAC has the best safety record of any method of obtaining material for a morphological diagnosis. It also allows for collecting material for ancillary testing, such as immunohistochemistry.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationFine Needle Aspiration Cytology of the Breast
Subtitle of host publicationAtlas of Cyto-Histologic Correlates, Second Edition
PublisherSpringer International Publishing
Pages21-31
Number of pages11
ISBN (Electronic)9783031269004
ISBN (Print)9783031268991
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2023

Cite this