Fine Needle Aspiration Doctor in Palm Desert, CA
Our office is located in Los Angeles, but we happily serve patients from Palm Desert
Palm Desert residents facing concerning lumps gain access to superior diagnostic care with just a 90-minute drive to Dr. Celina Nadelman’s Beverly Hills office. As one of California’s few dual-certified cytopathologists and FNA specialists, she combines ultrasound-guided biopsy precision with immediate microscopic analysis – delivering same-day appointments and 24-48 hour results with 93% accuracy for thyroid nodules and suspicious masses. This unique one-visit approach eliminates the weeks-long waits at other medical centers, providing definitive answers when they matter most.
If you’re looking for a minimally invasive, highly accurate biopsy without delays, reach out to schedule your appointment today.
What Is Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)?
Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) is a fast, minimally invasive procedure used to collect cells from a lump or abnormal area for diagnostic testing. Using a thin needle usually between 27 and 23 gauge, a small sample is gently drawn for examination under a microscope. FNA is widely used to help diagnosing thyroid nodules, breast lumps, lymph node enlargements, and salivary gland concerns.
Unlike surgical biopsies that may involve incisions or general anesthesia, FNA is performed with local anesthesia and requires no stitches or recovery time. Most patients are able to return to their normal routine right after the procedure.
What Conditions Can FNA Help Diagnose?
Fine Needle Aspiration is used to investigate a variety of conditions, especially when a lump or swelling is discovered. At Dr. Nadelman’s office, FNA is most commonly used to diagnose:
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Thyroid Nodules
Determine if a thyroid growth is benign or malignant. FNA is the standard of care for evaluating thyroid nodules. -
Breast Lumps
FNA helps assess whether a breast mass is a benign cyst, fibroadenoma, or suspicious for cancer. -
Enlarged Lymph Nodes
Swollen lymph nodes may result from infection, inflammation, or cancer. FNA helps clarify the cause. -
Salivary Gland Masses
FNA is a safe and effective way to evaluate bumps or swelling in the parotid or submandibular glands. -
Head and Neck Masses
These can often be evaluated with ultrasound-guided FNA, helping avoid unnecessary surgery or delay.
Why Choose Dr. Nadelman for Your FNA Biopsy in Palm Desert?
- Dual-Trained Expert: As both a cytopathologist and FNA specialist, Dr. Nadelman performs and analyzes your biopsy in one visit using ROSE technology, a rare advantage that eliminates the “inconclusive results” common at Coachella Valley centers. Her dual expertise ensures 93% diagnostic accuracy for thyroid nodules and suspicious masses on the first attempt.
- Faster Answers: Skip the 3-4 week waits at local hospitals. Palm Desert patients receive same-day/next-day appointments with results typically available within 24-48 hours, significantly faster than the industry standard 7-10 day wait.
- Gentle Precision: Our ultrasound-guided FNA biopsies target even small (2mm+) lumps with submillimeter accuracy supported by the use of local anesthetic for a virtually painless experience and require no downtime or recovery period.
If you have a suspicious lump or nodule, early diagnosis can make all the difference. Dr. Nadelman’s approach is designed to give you answers quickly and with precision. Learn more FNA biopsy right here.
STEPS TO YOUR BIOPSY
In order to determine whether a lump is malignant, cancerous cells from the area must be examined under a microscope. Those cells can be obtained with a surgical biopsy or an FNA biopsy. An FNA biopsy is done in a doctor’s office with a very thin needle. Not only can the appointment be made within days, it is much less uncomfortable, and has less risk of bleeding or trauma to the tissue.From the patient’s perspective, an FNA is faster, can be performed in a doctor’s office, is less expensive and there is less tissue trauma than with a more invasive surgical biopsy.
Faster, Accurate Results for Palm Desert Patients
Palm Desert patients can reach Dr. Nadelman’s Beverly Hills clinic in just about two hours, making expert FNA care closer than you think. While many local facilities have long wait times, Dr. Nadelman offers same-day or next-day appointments with 24-48 hour results. As both the performing physician and interpreting cytopathologist, she delivers precise diagnosis with ultrasound-guided accuracy and real-time ROSE evaluation, helping you get clear answers without delay.
Schedule Your Biopsy. No Long Waits, Just Fast Results
If you’re in Palm Desert or nearby areas, Dr. Nadelman’s Beverly Hills office offers timely, accurate Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) services with next-day availability. Many patients choose to make the trip to avoid delays and receive direct care from a physician highly experienced in cytopathology.
Patients often describe their visit as calming, informative, and far more reassuring than expected. Whether you’ve been referred by your doctor or discovered a lump yourself, Dr. Nadelman is here to provide expert care and peace of mind.
Get more details here:
FAQ’s on Fine Needle Aspiration
Fine Needle Aspiration is a method of taking a small amount of tissue from a lump in the body. A very thin needle is inserted into the lump and tissue is dislodged by movement of the needle and/or by gentle suction. The tissue is then examined microscopically by a pathologist. The pathologist will make a diagnosis (find out the cause of the lump) and send a report to your doctor.
No, the procedure is completely painless. However, the needles used in FNA are very thin. Also, for your comfort, local anesthesia is often used before the FNA. If you are sore after the procedure, a simple pain reliever such as Tylenol (no nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, i.e. Advil) or an ice pack may alleviate mild symptoms.
Most doctors consider FNA to be a very good test. Overall, it is about 90-95% accurate when the aspiration and interpretation are done by an experienced cytopathologist. There is a small chance (usually less than 10%, depending on the size, location and nature of the lump) that the FNA will not be interpreted as cancer when cancer is there. Very rarely (usually less than 1% of the cases), FNA may be falsely interpreted as cancer when cancer is not there. Your doctor will use the results of the FNA and other clinical information to determine if further tests or treatment are necessary.
As with any procedure in which the skin is broken (like having your blood drawn), there is always a risk of pain, bleeding, bruising or slight tenderness at the aspiration site. Very rarely, an infection may occur after an FNA. However, the benefits of the FNA far outweigh the risks.
The alternative is to do a surgical biopsy, which is done with a much larger needle or by an operation. Surgery is more invasive, has more complications, and may take a while to schedule. A FNA is simpler, less expensive, has fewer complications and faster.
Generally, you may engage in your normal activities, including eating and drinking before and after the procedure. The only special precaution is to avoid taking anything that would increase bleeding such as aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), such as Advil, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Alieve, fish oil, vitamin E, etc., from about a week before the appointment (or the time your appointment is made), to a few days after the procedure. This may be helpful in limiting any additional bruising from the procedure. Moreover, you may resume normal activities immediately after the procedure.
Depending on what type of lesion (lump) it is and where it is in the body, the actual biopsy takes only a few minutes. However, since the FNA is being performed by a cytopathologist, (Dr. Nadelman), the material is checked immediately under the microscope as you wait, to ensure that there is enough material to make a diagnosis later on. This is done to decrease the chance of having to come back for a repeat FNA because of not enough material. Due to this, the procedure may take up to 45 minutes (per site).
After the biopsy sample has been obtained and you have left the office, all the slides prepared will be thoroughly examined and interpreted by the cytopathologist, Dr. Nadelman. A preliminary report can be telephoned to your doctor shortly after the FNA procedure (often within 24 hours). Because of the detailed evaluation involved and the possibility of additional studies, a final written report may require a few days (2-4 days) to complete, but is usually done in 48 hours. Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) is a diagnostic part of a complete evaluation of the specific site of concern indicated by your referring doctor. Therefore, the results will be given to your doctor and should be discussed with him or her. If you would like to receive your results directly, in addition, you may make a follow up appointment with Dr. Nadelman. Our goal is to care for you in the best, most efficient, yet personalized manner. If you have any further questions please contact us.
Yes, we accept Medicare and most PPO plans. Contact our office to confirm. 310.789.2046
Dr. Nadelman Services Patients from Palm Desert, CA
If you’re in Palm Desert and need a prompt, precise Fine Needle Aspiration biopsy, Dr. Celina Nadelman offers next-day appointments at her Beverly Hills office. Patients throughout Southern California rely on her specialized expertise, compassionate approach, and fast turnaround. If you’ve been told you need a biopsy, there’s no reason to delay. Call 310.742.1979 to schedule an appointment today.
How to Get to Dr. Nadelman’s Office from Palm Desert:
Office Location: 8670 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 200, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
To reach Dr. Nadelman’s office from Palm Desert:
- Get on I-10 W in Thousand Palms from CA-111 S and Cook St.
- Continue on I-10 W. Take CA-60 W/Moreno Valley Fwy to S Robertson Blvd in Los Angeles. Take exit 6-Robertson Blvd from I-10 W.
- Continue on S Robertson Blvd. Drive to S Beverly Dr, the office will be on the left.
Avoid the Long Waits
Palm Desert patients often make the 2-hour drive to Dr. Nadelman’s Beverly Hills clinic to avoid long waits common at regional centers. With same-day or next-day appointments and 24–48 hour results, her clinic offers the speed and precision needed when evaluating thyroid nodules, lymph nodes, or other concerning masses. As both the FNA specialist and cytopathologist, Dr. Nadelman delivers accurate diagnoses on the first attempt, minimizing uncertainty and eliminating unnecessary delays.
Call today for a next-day appointment and get answers within 24 hours!
