Suspicion of any pathology makes a person worry. This is especially true for oncological processes. Cancer is a terrible diagnosis both for the person himself and for all his loved ones. However, there are currently many ways to deal with it. The effectiveness of the treatment of cancer pathologies is high in the initial stages of the disease. Therefore, in order to detect cancer faster, it is necessary to be examined at the first signs of an ailment. One of the diagnostic methods is an aspiration biopsy. It is performed quickly and almost painlessly. In some cases, this study acts as a treatment procedure.
What is the purpose of an aspiration biopsy?
In order to confirm or deny the presence of a malignant process, a study of the composition of cells of a pathological formation is required. It is carried out using 2 diagnostic procedures. These include histological and cytological examination. The first is to perform a cut from a damaged organ, staining it and microscopy. This method is the standard for the diagnosis of cancerous tumors. A cytological examination consists in performing a smear from the surface of the biopsy. Next, microscopy of the glass is carried out. To obtain material for research, an open biopsy is performed. This is a surgical operation involving partial or complete removal of an organ. Another way to take cells is an aspiration puncture biopsy. Using it, you can conduct histological and cytological analysis. To this end, biological material is obtained by puncturing an organ and splitting off small pieces of the affected area.
The advantages of the suction method include:
- Lack of cuts on the skin.
- Painless procedure.
- Ability to perform on an outpatient basis.
- Speed of execution.
- Reducing the risk of complications that may arise as a result of the procedure (inflammation, bleeding).
An aspiration biopsy can be performed using special tools or an ordinary thin needle used for injection. It depends on the depth and location of the neoplasm.
Indications for biopsy
An aspiration biopsy is performed if tumors of various organs are suspected. Among them are the thyroid and mammary glands, the uterus, lymph nodes, the prostate, bones, and soft tissues. This diagnostic method is performed in cases where there is access to the neoplasm. The indications for the study include the following conditions:
- Suspicion of a malignant tumor.
- Inability to determine the nature of the inflammatory process by other methods.
In most cases, it is impossible to establish what cells the neoplasm consists of, without cytological and histological examination. Even if the doctor is confident in the presence of a malignant tumor, the diagnosis must be confirmed. This is necessary to establish the degree of cell differentiation and conduct therapeutic measures. In addition to cancerous tumors, there are benign neoplasms that must be removed. Before proceeding to surgical intervention, confirmation that there is no cancer process is necessary. An aspiration biopsy is also performed for this purpose.
Sometimes treatment of inflammatory processes is ineffective, despite the adequacy of the therapy. In such cases, a histological examination of the tissue is required to exclude specific pathologies. Thus, tuberculosis, syphilitic or other inflammation can be detected.
Study Preparation
Depending on the location of the pathological site, preparation for the study may differ. In all cases, diagnostic procedures are required before an aspiration biopsy. These include: blood and urine tests, determination of biochemical parameters, coagulogram, tests for hepatitis and HIV infection. If tumors are suspected, external localization of a specific preparation is not required. This applies to neoplasms of the thyroid and mammary glands, skin, lymph nodes. In these cases, a fine needle aspiration biopsy is performed. This method is completely painless and resembles an ordinary injection. If the tumor is deep, trepanobiopsy is required. It is carried out using a special tool and a thick needle. In this case, local anesthesia is required.
Preparation for endometrial aspiration biopsy is somewhat different. In addition to the above tests, before it is carried out, it is required to obtain the results of a smear from the vagina and cervix. If the patient is a woman of childbearing age, a biopsy is performed on the 25th or 26th day of the menstrual cycle. In the postmenopausal period, the study can be carried out at any time.
Thyroid biopsy
An aspiration thyroid biopsy is performed with a thin needle. It is required in the presence of nodular formations in the tissue of the organ. Before conducting the study, the doctor performs palpation of the thyroid gland. For this patient, they are asked to swallow. At this point, the doctor determines the exact location of the node. This place is treated with an alcohol solution for disinfection. Then the doctor inserts a thin needle into the neck. With his other hand, he fixes the node to get cells from the pathological focus. The doctor pulls the piston of an empty syringe on himself to extract biological material. Pathological tissue penetrates the lumen of the needle, after which it is placed on a glass slide. The resulting material is sent for cytological examination. A cotton swab dipped in an alcohol solution is applied to the puncture site and fixed with an adhesive plaster.
A fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid gland helps determine if there are malignant cells in the nodule. In their absence, a conservative treatment of goiter is possible. If a doctor diagnoses thyroid cancer, organ removal and chemotherapy are required.
Endometrial Aspiration Biopsy Technique
Indications for a uterine biopsy are: suspected cancer, hyperplastic processes (endometriosis, polyps), monitoring of hormone therapy. The study is performed in the treatment room or small operating room under ultrasound control. First of all, palpation of the pelvic organs is performed. Then the cervix is fixed with gynecological mirrors. A special conductor, a catheter, is inserted into the cervical canal. Through it, the contents of the endometrium are aspirated into a syringe. The resulting material is sent to the laboratory to determine the cellular composition of the liquid.
In some cases, an aspiration biopsy of the uterus is performed using a special vacuum device. It is necessary so that the material is taken under pressure. Using it, you can get several samples of biological material when performing 1 puncture.
Puncture biopsy of lymph nodes and breast
A lymph node biopsy is performed if the doctor suspects a specific inflammation or regional spread of the tumor. The study is carried out using a thin needle. The technique of its implementation is similar to an aspiration biopsy of the thyroid gland. The same technique is used to obtain material from neoplasms in the chest. In addition, an aspiration biopsy of the mammary gland is performed in the presence of large cysts. In this case, this procedure is not only diagnostic, but also therapeutic.
If the material obtained is insufficient or it is not possible to confirm the diagnosis with it, trepanobiopsy of the breast is performed. It is performed under the control of ultrasound . Thus, it is possible to track the progress of the needle. In some cases, a vacuum aspiration biopsy is performed.
Contraindications to the study
There are practically no contraindications to conducting a fine needle biopsy. Difficulties may arise if the patient is a person with a mental illness or a child. In these cases, intravenous anesthesia is required, which cannot always be performed. An aspiration vacuum or fine-needle endometrial biopsy is undesirable for inflammatory pathologies of the cervix and vagina. Also, the procedure is not performed during pregnancy.
Interpretation of study results
The result of the histological examination is ready in 7-10 days. Cytological analysis is faster. After microscopy of the smear or histological preparation, the doctor makes a conclusion about the cellular composition of the neoplasm. In the absence of atypia, the tumor is benign. If the cells obtained during the study differ from normal elements, the diagnosis of cancer is confirmed. In such cases, the degree of tumor differentiation is established. The prognosis and treatment methods depend on this.
Aspiration biopsy: reviews of doctors
Doctors claim that the aspiration biopsy method is a reliable diagnostic study that is safe for the patient’s health. With low information content of the obtained material, the fabric fence can be repeated. To perform this study does not require hospitalization of the patient.