Fine Needle Aspiration Doctor in San Luis Obispo, CA
Skip the Wait for a Biopsy in San Luis Obispo
If you’ve been told you need a biopsy, waiting weeks or months for an appointment can be overwhelming. At Dr. Celina Nadelman’s Beverly Hills office, patients from San Luis Obispo can get next-day Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) biopsies performed by a board-certified cytopathologist, with preliminary results available in most cases within 24 hours.
Whether your doctor has referred you for a thyroid, lymph node, breast, or salivary gland biopsy, Dr. Nadelman offers an accurate and compassionate alternative to large hospital systems that often delay answers. Her streamlined approach allows patients to get both their biopsy and diagnosis under one roof.
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.
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 Patients from San Luis Obispo Choose Dr. Nadelman
For patients living in San Luis Obispo, driving to Beverly Hills may be the most efficient and reassuring path to a diagnosis. Unlike busy hospitals or multi-visit systems, Dr. Nadelman’s clinic offers direct access to a specialist who not only performs the procedure but interprets the results.
This one-stop model minimizes delays, avoids the need for multiple appointments, and reduces unnecessary referrals. For patients dealing with a suspicious lump, the ability to get answers quickly can make all the difference.
Conditions Dr. Nadelman Evaluates Using FNA
- Thyroid nodules
- Breast lumps or cysts
- Enlarged or abnormal lymph nodes
- Salivary gland masses (parotid, submandibular)
- Other superficial or accessible soft tissue masses
All procedures are guided by real-time ultrasound imaging when necessary to ensure precision and patient comfort. Patients from San Luis Obispo benefit from the same high standards of care and rapid service as local patients in the Beverly Hills area.
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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 Serves Patients from San Luis Obispo
If you are located in San Luis Obispo and have been advised to get a biopsy, you do not need to wait weeks or navigate complicated hospital systems. Dr. Celina Nadelman provides fast, expert FNA services just a few hours’ drive away in Beverly Hills. 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, Phone: 310.742.1979
Directions from San Luis Obispo to Dr. Nadelman’s Office
- Take US-101 South to CA-1 South
- Merge onto I-405 South
- Exit Wilshire Blvd and drive east for 4 miles
- Arrive at Dr. Nadelman’s Beverly Hills office
Book Your Fine Needle Aspiration Appointment Today
Don’t wait weeks for a biopsy. Call Dr. Nadelman’s office today for a same-day or next-day appointment. Most patients receive results within 24 hours, giving you the clarity you need without the stress of long wait times.
Skip the long wait times at large hospitals. Call today for a next-day appointment and get answers within 24 hours!
