Fine Needle Aspiration Doctor in Encino, CA
Our office is located in Los Angeles, but we happily serve patients from Palo Alto
Waiting for weeks or even months to get a biopsy can feel like time is standing still. If you’ve been told you need a biopsy for a thyroid, breast, or lymph node concern, you deserve answers right away. At Dr. Celina Nadelman’s Beverly Hills office, patients from Palo Alto, CA can access next-day Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) biopsies with personalized, compassionate care.
As a board-certified cytopathologist, Dr. Nadelman performs and interprets every biopsy herself. This hands-on approach leads to faster, more accurate results and a smoother experience for each patient. Most receive preliminary results within 24 hours, eliminating the prolonged anxiety that often comes with waiting.
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 is a quick, non-surgical biopsy used to collect cells from a lump or abnormal area. It involves a very thin needle, typically between 27 to 23 gauge, to gently extract cells for microscopic analysis. FNA is highly effective in diagnosing thyroid nodules, breast lumps, lymph node enlargements, and salivary gland concerns.
Unlike traditional biopsies that may require surgical incisions or general anesthesia, FNA is minimally invasive, performed under local anesthesia, and does not require stitches or downtime. Most patients return to normal activities immediately after the procedure.
Palo Alto Patients Receive Fast, Accurate Results
Long wait times for specialty care can lead to unnecessary stress and delayed treatment. Many large medical centers in the Bay Area are backlogged with appointments, and biopsy results may take weeks to return. Dr. Nadelman offers a more responsive and compassionate experience.
Palo Alto patients trust Dr. Nadelman because she offers:
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Same or next-day FNA biopsy appointments
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Personalized care from the doctor who both performs and interprets the biopsy
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Preliminary results often delivered within 24 hours
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A calming, professional atmosphere where patient well-being is the top priority
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.
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.
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.
What to Expect During Your FNA Biopsy in Palo Alto, CA
At your appointment, Dr. Nadelman will review your medical history and imaging, perform a focused physical exam, and discuss what to expect during the procedure. The biopsy itself takes just minutes and is typically guided by ultrasound for maximum accuracy.
Most patients report only mild discomfort. There is no need for general anesthesia, and no downtime is required. After the sample is collected, it is evaluated under a microscope. You will typically receive a preliminary diagnosis within 24 hours.
Dr. Nadelman Serves Patients from Palo Alto, CA
If you’re located in Palo Alto or the surrounding Bay Area, Dr. Nadelman’s Beverly Hills office is proud to offer quick and accurate Fine Needle Aspiration services. Many patients travel from out of town to avoid long waits and to receive care directly from a physician with deep expertise in cytopathology.
Patients frequently report that the experience at Dr. Nadelman’s office is more calming, informative, and reassuring than what they expected. Whether you’ve been referred by your primary care provider or found a lump on your own, Dr. Nadelman is here to help.
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 Sees Patients from Palo Alto, CA
If you’re in Palo Alto and need a fast, accurate Fine Needle Aspiration biopsy, Dr. Celina Nadelman offers next-day care from her Beverly Hills office. Patients from across Northern California choose her for her expertise, compassionate approach, and unmatched turnaround time. If you’ve been told you need a biopsy, there’s no reason to wait. Call 310.742.1979 to schedule an appointment today.
How to Get to Dr. Nadelman’s Office from Palo Alto:
Office Location: 8670 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 200, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
To reach Dr. Nadelman’s office from Palo Alto, take US-101 S to I-405 S. Exit at Wilshire Blvd and head east for about four miles. Her office is located in central Beverly Hills, with parking available onsite for your convenience.
Avoid the Long Waits
Most major medical centers have weeks-long wait times for biopsies and even longer waits for results. Dr. Nadelman offers next-day appointments and provides preliminary results within 24 hours. This means you get the answers you need without delays, anxiety, or repeat visits.
Skip the long wait times at large hospitals. Call today for a next-day appointment and get answers within 24 hours!
