Fine-Needle Aspiration
for Tissue Diagnosis
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The objective of a fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is to obtain tissue in order to make a diagnosis. A FNA can be performed with the guidance of a CT scanning machine or an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) machine. The CT guided FNA is currently the most commonly performed method of pancreatic tissue diagnosis. The esophageal endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided FNA is a newer method for performing pancreatic tissue diagnosis. EUS FNA is performed utilizing an endoscope with an ultrasound probe and fine needle attached to the end of it. The highly trained physician advances the endoscope down the esophagus into the first portion of the small entestine. The physician then performs an ultrasound of the pancreas and is able to obtain a FNA of any abnormal appearing tissue. |