Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC):

A diagnostic technique called Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is used to look into tumors or masses in the body. This minimally invasive procedure entails taking tiny tissue or fluid samples from the questionable location with a thin, hollow needle so they can be examined under a microscope.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure used to investigate a lump or mass found in areas of the body such as the breast, thyroid, salivary gland, or lymph node. In this test, a needle is inserted into the suspicious area after applying a local anesthetic to numb the area, minimizing discomfort. The thin, hollow needle extracts body fluid or tissue for microscopic evaluation.

FNAC is commonly recommended to assess conditions like cysts, lymph nodes, or granulomatous lymphadenitis, and can even be part of chorionic villus sampling or body fluid sampling. It’s also useful in cyst sampling and seroma sampling.

Compared to a surgical biopsy, FNAC is quicker, causes less trauma, and often requires no hospital stay. While some patients ask, "How painful is the FNAC?"—it is typically well-tolerated and causes only mild discomfort.

A normal FNAC test report usually indicates the absence of malignant or abnormal cells. However, depending on the findings, your doctor may recommend additional tests or imaging to get a clearer picture—especially when identifying if the FNAC test is positive for malignancy or infection.

FNAC plays a crucial role in early diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring of various medical conditions.