Cyst aspiration is a medical procedure where fluid or cells are extracted from a cyst using a needle, often to perform a biopsy. The needle may be guided by ultrasound, and the contents are drawn into a syringe for further investigation. This procedure is less painful than surgery and allows for same-day discharge.
Cyst aspiration is a medical procedure in which fluid or cells are extracted from a cyst using a needle. This is often done to take a biopsy. The needle is typically inserted directly through the skin and may be guided by an ultrasound so your doctor can see what you’re doing. Other equipment may also be required. The contents of the cyst are then drawn into a syringe for further investigation.
One of the main reasons for performing a cyst aspiration is to perform a biopsy. A biopsy is a procedure in which a specialist examines cells from tissue or fluid samples under a microscope to see if any cancer cells are present. This is the primary way doctors can tell whether a lump is cancerous or benign. They may also be able to tell what type of cancer it is by looking at the shape of the cells.
The doctor aspiring the cyst will guide the needle with their hands if it can be detected through the skin, or they may use an ultrasound or other imaging machine to look at the lump on a screen as they work. Then he will insert the needle directly into the affected area and may move the needle in and out to allow for suction. Sometimes this will be done two or more times to ensure enough fluid or tissue has been collected.
Once the procedure is complete, the tissue or fluid is smeared and treated and then examined by a specialist, usually a pathologist. If cancer is found, the patient will be notified and treatment can begin immediately. Most cysts turn out to be benign or non-cancerous. No further treatment may be needed in these cases, although sometimes a particularly large cyst can be surgically removed. Sometimes your doctor may do additional tests if the cyst is thought to have been caused by another disease or condition.
Occasionally patients are given a numbing agent while the cyst is being aspirated, but many times the procedure is less painful than administering painkillers would be. Some doctors let their patients decide whether pain medications will be needed. Once the procedure is finished, most patients are free to leave the doctor’s office or clinic the same day and may only experience mild pain at the injection site.
Cyst aspiration is preferable to the more invasive treatments used to test cysts for cancer and other conditions. The most common is surgery in which the doctor cuts off all part of the cyst to recover a tissue sample. This often results in much more pain for the patient and can result in a hospital stay, depending on the size of the cyst and its location.
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