# Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB)

## Overview

This module describes how to perform a fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), a minimally invasive technique used to obtain samples for cytological investigations.

## Indications

## Contraindications

## Patient information and consent

Always verify your patient’s identity and obtain informed consent before proceeding.

### How do I explain this procedure?

“I need to collect some cells from the mass to see what it is and how to manage it. I’m going to use a needle and syringe to withdraw these cells and put them onit on a slide so that the laboratory can examine it under a microscope.”

### What can my patient expect?

“You may feel a sharp sting when I insert the needle. The test results can take a few days to come out.”

### What is my patient’s role?

“Let me know if you have any allergies or a bleeding tendency, or use blood thinners. Fearing blood or needles is normal, but tell me if you have fainted from it. Keep as still as possible. Afterwards, press firmly on the area to prevent bleeding.”

## Preparation

Prepare a trolley with equipment. Using the pencil, write the patient's name and folder number on the

bottom frosted part of the slide

bottom frosted part of the slide

Do not place a sticker over the underside of the slide lengthways as this will make viewing the contents of the slide very difficult. If you cannot find a pencil, use a sticker and write the patient's details on this and stick this on the bottom frosted section of the slide

.

### Documentation

### Equipment

## Site and Positioning

The patient should be positioned reclining or supine, with the lesion within easy reach.

## Procedure

Follow medical asepsis with non-sterile gloves.

## Troubleshooting

The sample is only blood.

Remove the needle and apply pressure for a minute. Try again using a smaller needle and a different angle if possible. If still bloody, do fine needle capillary sampling; it is performed in the same manner, but without aspiration. If still bloody, consider a

vascular lesion

vascular lesion

Such as Kaposi’s sarcoma or haemangioma

. Note this on the cytology request form.

I punctured a cyst—the aspirate is just fluid.

Empty the cyst and send all the fluid to the lab in a specimen jar for cytology. Perform fine needle aspiration of the remaining mass or the cyst wall.

I don’t have a slide case.

Place the slides in a urine sample container. Place a second container to cover the slide end sticking out, then tape them together.

## Risks

## References