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Why is fine needle aspiration safer than surgical biopsy? Uncover the secrets of this small surgery!
In modern medicine, fine-needle aspiration (FNA) has become a safe and effective way to detect lumps or tumors. This procedure uses a thin, hollow needle, usually between 23 and 25 gauge, that is inserted into the mass to sample cells, which are then examined under a microscope. Compared with traditional incisional biopsy, fine needle aspiration not only reduces the need for hospitalization, but also reduces the potential risks of surgery.
Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is widely regarded as a very safe minimally invasive procedure, with a relatively low complication rate.
Medical applications of fine needle aspiration
Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is often used for two main purposes: one is to biopsy an unclear mass or tissue block, and the other is to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment or obtain tissue for special research on known tumors. In addition, fine-needle aspiration is the primary method for chorionic villus sampling and testing of many body fluids, particularly in the ultrasound-guided aspiration of breast abscesses and cysts.
In situations where high precision is required, such as biopsies of the pancreas and stomach, endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) can effectively obtain samples.
Surgery preparation and process
Before performing fine needle aspiration, patients usually need to follow some preparation steps, including: avoiding aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs, fasting for several hours, and doing routine blood tests. During surgery, the target site is sterilized and anesthetized as necessary, and then multiple punctures are made with a fine needle to ensure that sufficient cell samples are obtained for subsequent analysis.
The procedure of fine needle aspiration is relatively simple and short, and can usually be performed on an outpatient basis without hospitalization.
Postoperative care and complications
Although complications are possible with any surgery, fine-needle aspiration has a lower complication rate. Postoperative pain is usually controlled with mild analgesics, and the risk of infection is greatly reduced. Common complications include minor bleeding, especially when a biopsy of the lungs or kidneys is performed, where a small amount of blood may appear. Biopsies from different parts have different risks of complications. For example, lung biopsy may cause pneumothorax, but usually the risk of severe disease is small and it heals on its own.
Most complications from fine-needle aspiration biopsy are minor and transient, and the risk of major surgery is relatively low.
Comparison between fine needle aspiration and surgical biopsy
The advantage of fine-needle aspiration is that it is less invasive and most patients do not need to be hospitalized after the operation, which to some extent improves the efficiency of the use of medical resources. In addition, recovery time from fine needle aspiration is significantly shortened, allowing patients to return to normal activities in less time. While fine-needle aspiration can sometimes result in insufficient samples or false-negative results, many doctors still prefer this method as a preliminary diagnostic tool due to its low risk and simplicity.
Fine needle aspiration provides an economical and safe option, reducing the need for more invasive surgeries.
The future of fine needle aspiration
With the advancement of medical technology, the operation and sample preparation techniques of fine needle aspiration are also constantly improved. The emergence of new technologies such as rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) allows physicians to evaluate the quality of samples in real time, further optimizing the efficiency of the aspiration process. Researchers are also exploring the use of more portable devices to simplify sample preparation and improve the universal applicability of fine-needle aspiration.
Of course, as more research is conducted, the medical community's understanding and application scope of fine needle aspiration will be further expanded. In this rapidly developing field, are readers also thinking about what unexpected surprises fine needle aspiration will provide us in the future?
