Fine Needle Aspiration Doctor in Carmel, CA
If you live in Carlsbad and were recently told you need a biopsy, waiting weeks for answers is not your only option. At Dr. Celina Nadelman’s Beverly Hills clinic, patients from Carlsbad and neighboring cities receive expert Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) biopsies with next-day availability and preliminary results in as little as 24 hours.
Dr. Nadelman is a board certified cytopathologist, which means she performs your biopsy and also provides your diagnosis. This rare combination of skills allows her to offer a level of accuracy and continuity that large medical centers often cannot provide.
Whether you are concerned about a thyroid nodule, a breast lump, a swollen lymph node, or a soft tissue mass, you deserve clear answers quickly. At our clinic, everything is done under one roof so you can get the clarity you need without the confusion or delay of multiple appointments.
What Is Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)?
Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) is a highly effective diagnostic biopsy procedure that uses a very thin needle to collect cells from a lump or mass. The sample is then examined under a microscope to determine whether the growth is benign or malignant.
FNA is commonly used for evaluating:
- Thyroid nodules
- Breast lumps and cysts
- Enlarged or abnormal lymph nodes
- Salivary gland growths
- Other soft tissue abnormalities
The procedure is minimally invasive, quick, and performed in an outpatient setting. No general anesthesia or stitches are required. Recovery is immediate and patients can return to regular activity the same day.
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 Choose Dr. Nadelman for Your Biopsy
Dr. Celina Nadelman offers a unique model of care that combines expertise, speed, and comfort. As a board certified cytopathologist, she does not just perform the biopsy, she also reads the results. This makes her clinic one of the few places in California where you can receive one doctor, one visit, and one diagnosis.
Her patients trust her for many reasons:
- You receive the consultation, ultrasound imaging, FNA procedure, and preliminary results at the same location, often within one day.
- Most patients receive their results within 24 hours, which helps eliminate the long and stressful waiting period experienced at hospitals.
- Dr. Nadelman uses both ultrasound and palpation guidance to ensure each sample is collected with precision and as little discomfort as possible.
- The office accepts most major PPO insurance plans and Medicare, with cash pay options that are significantly more affordable than hospital-based biopsies.
- With next-day availability, you can skip the long scheduling queues and get care when it matters most.
- The calm and private office setting provides a reassuring environment that helps reduce anxiety and uncertainty.
Next Day FNA Appointments for Carlsbad Patients
Hospitals and outpatient centers often book weeks in advance, especially for diagnostic procedures like biopsies. Delayed scheduling only adds to the anxiety of not knowing what a lump or nodule may be.
At Dr. Nadelman’s Beverly Hills office, we make every effort to see patients within 24 hours. During one visit, you can expect a consultation, ultrasound imaging, your FNA procedure, and often a preliminary diagnosis by the next day. This model saves you time, stress, and unnecessary back and forth between different providers.
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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 Carlsbad, California
If you are located in Carlsbad 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.
Many patients from San Diego County choose her clinic because of the personal care, speed of diagnosis, and expertise she offers. If you need assistance coordinating your visit, our team is here to help. Call 310.742.1979 to schedule an appointment today.
How to Get to Dr. Nadelman’s Office from Carlsbad:
Office Address: 8670 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 200, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Driving directions:
- Take I-5 North toward Los Angeles
- Merge onto I-405 North toward Santa Monica
- Take the Wilshire Boulevard exit
- Head east on Wilshire Boulevard for about 4 miles
- Arrive at the office on the right
Patients who are traveling from out of town are welcome to call ahead for appointment support, travel tips, and insurance assistance.
Get a Biopsy Without the Long Wait
Choosing Dr. Nadelman means choosing fast answers, compassionate care, and expert diagnostics in one visit. There is no reason to wait weeks when your health is in question. We are proud to offer next-day appointments, 24 hour preliminary results, and a clinic that handles everything under one roof.
If you live in Carlsbad and need a biopsy, contact us today to schedule your appointment.
