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Fine Needle Aspiration Clinic
The LMC fine-needle aspiration (FNA)
clinic is a state-of-the-art facility that is designed to
streamline patient care by providing accurate, rapid diagnoses of
palpable lesions. Patients with palpable abnormalities (most
commonly of the thyroid gland, head/neck, breast, lymph nodes, or
subcutaneous tissues) can be scheduled in the FNA clinic at short
notice. All FNA’s are performed by Board certified
cytopathologists with subspecialty training in aspiration
cytology. The cytopathologist performs an immediate assessment of
the aspiration material under the microscope to ensure a
satisfactory specimen, and to triage the aspiration for ancillary
testing, as appropriate. The LMC cytopathologists will immediately
call the referring physician with the results of the FNA
interpretation, if desired.
The LMC fine-needle aspiration (FNA)
clinic is located at 3059 S. Maryland Parkway (see map) and
is open from 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. Patients may
be scheduled at short notice by calling 702-732-3441.
A Message to Patients Referred to
the LMC Fine-Needle Aspiration Clinic
Fine-Needle aspiration (FNA) is a
simple, safe procedure for evaluating many different
diseases. Your physician has referred you to the LMC clinic
because you have a palpable nodule or “lump” that requires further
evaluation. FNA is an excellent technique for evaluating such
abnormalities, because it is very simple and in many instances can
take the place of a more complicated diagnostic procedure, such as
surgery.
Our courteous staff will do everything they can to make you feel relaxed and
comfortable. When you arrive at LMC, a receptionist at the front
desk will greet you. Upon completion of any necessary paperwork,
you will proceed to the FNA suite. If the area to be aspirated is
underneath the shirt or pants, you may be asked to disrobe and
change into a hospital gown. Otherwise, you can remain in your
street clothes. If you are accompanied by a
spouse/friend/relative, that person is welcome to stay with you in
the FNA suite for the duration of the procedure. You will
wait for just a few minutes, while the FNA physician reviews your
medical records and speaks to your referring doctor on the
telephone.
An experienced physician who has
extensive subspecialty training in the procedure will perform your
FNA. Before the procedure, the physician will completely explain
the entire process to you and answer any questions that you may
have. The FNA procedure is very simple, and the process is similar
to getting a vaccination or having blood drawn:
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The
physician will use alcohol to
clean the skin overlying the area
of concern.
A
very thin needle will be placed
into the area of concern. Most of
the time, the needle will be
attached to a syringe, which
allows the physician to aspirate
cells/fluid.
After 5-10 seconds, the needle
will be removed and an assistant
will press lightly on the skin
with gauze, to prevent any
bleeding or swelling. The
physician may or may not perform a
second aspiration, depending upon
the nature of the lump and the
amount of material required to
make an accurate diagnosis.
The
physician will smear the
aspiration material on microscope
slides. He/she will then
leave the aspiration suite for a
few minutes. During this time,
he/she will look at the aspiration
under the microscope in order to
ensure that there is enough
material to permit accurate
diagnosis.
The
physician will return to the FNA
suite and, when necessary, perform
an additional aspiration. When
suitable material is obtained, the
physician may or may not apply an
adhesive bandage to the area – in
most cases this is not
necessary. You will then be ready
to dress and to go home.
The
entire process usually takes 15-20
minutes, with a minimum of
discomfort. The possible
complications of the procedure
will be explained to you at the
time of your visit, but they are
extremely rare and minor and
usually limited to slight bruising
at the aspiration site. You
should feel free to resume normal
daily activities.
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Your
referring physician will receive a
copy of the pathology report
within 24-48 hours. Your referring
physician will explain the results
to you so that a plan for
subsequent treatment or follow-up,
if necessary, can be prepared.
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