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    FNA Services
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    Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA)

    Fine needle aspiration biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure, which allows the radiologist or doctor to obtain some cells from a lesion, which has been identified in the breast. These cells are analysed by a cytopathologist to assess whether there is any breast cancer present.

    Method
    • Some FNA biopsies are performed without imaging the breast. A cytopathologist or surgeon performs these biopsies using manual palpation of a clinical abnormality as a guide for performing the procedure. This type of FNA procedure is called a Direct FNA, and is not done at Breast Imaging.
    • At Breast Imaging we use mammography and ultrasound as guidance to perform image guided fine needle aspiration biopsy of lesions that have been detected either on a mammogram or ultrasound examination.
    • The lesion is identified either using mammography or ultrasound, and a small drop of fluid is obtained from the lesion using the tip of a fine gauge needle. The fluid is deposited on glass microscope slides for evaluation by a cytopathologist.
    • The image guided FNA is performed under local anaesthetic.
    • In Western Australia we are very fortunate in having a number of highly skilled cytopathologists to evaluate this material.
    Time
    • The FNA biopsy will take approximately 30 minutes.
    Site Contents © Copyright 2002 Breast ImagingLast Updated 27 March 2002