Fine Needle Aspiration Doctor in Carmel, CA
Skip the Wait. Get Fast, Accurate Biopsy Results Often Within 24 Hours
If you’ve been told you need a biopsy, waiting weeks for answers can be overwhelming. For patients in Carmel and surrounding areas, expert Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) services are available just a short drive away at Dr. Celina Nadelman’s Beverly Hills clinic.
Dr. Nadelman is a board-certified cytopathologist, which means she both performs the biopsy and personally interprets the results—delivering unmatched accuracy, continuity, and peace of mind. Most patients receive a preliminary diagnosis within 24 hours.
Whether you’re evaluating a thyroid nodule, breast lump, or swollen lymph node, we provide same-day or next-day appointments with fast results and compassionate care.
What Is Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)?
What Is Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)?
Fine Needle Aspiration is a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure that uses a very thin needle to collect cells from a lump or abnormal area. It’s commonly used to evaluate:
- Thyroid nodules
- Breast lumps
- Lymph node enlargements
- Salivary gland masses
- Soft tissue growths in the neck or upper body
Unlike traditional surgical biopsies, FNA does not require stitches, sedation, or extended recovery. The procedure is quick, safe, and typically done in-office with local anesthesia.
At Dr. Nadelman’s office, every biopsy is guided by real-time ultrasound for maximum precision.
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.
Why Carmel Patients Choose Dr. Celina Nadelman
While large medical centers often involve long waits and fragmented care, Dr. Nadelman offers a more personalized experience. From consultation to diagnosis, your entire biopsy journey is handled under one roof.
- Patients from Carmel choose Dr. Nadelman for:
- Same-day or next-day scheduling
- Preliminary results often within 24 hours
- Direct access to a board-certified cytopathologist
- Expert ultrasound-guided FNA procedures
- Comfortable, efficient in-office setting
- One easy bill, no confusing multi-provider invoices
High diagnostic accuracy that helps avoid repeat biopsies or unnecessary surgery
Conditions Diagnosed with FNA
Dr. Nadelman performs FNA biopsies for a wide range of conditions affecting the thyroid, breast, neck, and lymphatic system. These include:
- Thyroid cancer vs. benign nodules
- Fibroadenomas and breast cysts
- Enlarged or abnormal lymph nodes
- Parotid and submandibular gland masses
- Soft tissue tumors or unknown growths
Each biopsy is carefully evaluated in her on-site lab, where Dr. Nadelman combines clinical insight with cellular-level analysis to deliver an accurate diagnosis.
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
Patients from Carmel, CA Visit Dr. Nadelman for Fast Biopsy Care
If you live in Carmel or nearby Monterey County and are facing a possible cancer diagnosis, you deserve answers fast. Dr. Nadelman welcomes patients from across California, including those willing to travel for expert-level care. From your first call to your final diagnosis, our goal is to minimize wait times and anxiety. Call 310.742.1979 to schedule an appointment today.
Directions from Carmel to Dr. Nadelman’s Office in Beverly Hills:
Office Location: 8670 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 200, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
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Take CA-1 S and merge onto US-101 S
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Continue toward Los Angeles for approximately 5 hours
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Exit onto Wilshire Blvd and drive east for 4 miles
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Arrive at Dr. Nadelman’s Beverly Hills office
Compassionate, Expert Care—When You Need It Most
Whether you are being referred by your doctor or seeking a second opinion, we are here to help. We understand that facing a biopsy can be stressful, and our team is committed to making the process as smooth, clear, and supportive as possible.
Most importantly, Dr. Nadelman’s unique role as both the biopsy provider and diagnostic pathologist eliminates unnecessary delays, reduces the risk of inconclusive results, and ensures you are never left waiting for answers.
