| Fine
needle aspiration (FNA) |
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A method to biopsy, obtain cells, for examination
under the microsope.
FNA, performed in conjunction with a CT or MRI imaging, enables pathologists
to determine the nature of a suspicious pancreatic abnormality.
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| Procedure: |
It is a surprisingly safe procedure that involves passing a small
needle directly through the skin or through an endoscope. The CT or
MRI imaging allows the doctor to see where the needle is going. This
is because the needle used has a very small bore. This sometimes means
that the small amount of tissue obtained is insufficient for the pathologist
to establish a diagnosis.
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| Accuracy: |
A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer based on a FNA is highly accurate,
approaching 99%. However, it is only between 50-70% accurate in determining
whether the cancer is benign or malignant.
Because the amount of tissue obtained is so small, the absence of
malignant cells in the sample cannot exclude the possibility of malignant
disease altogether.
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| Risks : |
Complications such as bleeding or infection occur very rarely, less
than 1% of patients.
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