What am I looking at?
Visual recognition
Very fine 22- to 25-gauge aspiration needle used with a syringe or aspiration handle, with a substantially smaller caliber than a core biopsy needle.
15-07
Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) needle
Cytology aspiration needle
Three-panel learning framework
Recognition, context, and distinction
What does it do, and where will I see it?
Use & procedural context
Obtains cellular material for cytologic evaluation using a very fine aspiration needle rather than a core-cutting system. Typical targets include thyroid nodules, lymph nodes, cystic lesions, and selected masses.
What most clearly distinguishes it from similar devices?
Key distinctions
FNA retrieves cellular material for cytologic evaluation through a very fine needle, distinguishing it from core biopsy, which removes an intact tissue cylinder for histology.