Fine Needle Aspiration Doctor in Escondido, CA
If you’ve recently been told you need a biopsy, the last thing you want is to wait weeks or be passed between providers. At Dr. Celina Nadelman’s Beverly Hills clinic, patients from Escondido and surrounding areas receive fast, accurate Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) biopsies with the highest level of personalized care.
Dr. Nadelman is a board certified cytopathologist. That means she performs your biopsy and interprets the results herself, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and comfort from start to finish. Most patients receive preliminary results within 24 hours of their procedure.
Whether you’re dealing with a thyroid nodule, a breast lump, or a swollen lymph node, you do not need to face delays or confusion. Our clinic provides a one stop solution for biopsy, lab services, and diagnosis under one roof.
What Is Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)?
Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) is a safe, minimally invasive biopsy technique used to collect cells from abnormal lumps or masses. A thin needle is used and guided by ultrasound when needed, to extract a small tissue sample. Dr. Nadelman then examines the specimen under a microscope in her on site lab.
FNA is used to evaluate:
- Thyroid nodules
- Breast lumps and cysts
- Swollen or abnormal lymph nodes
- Salivary gland masses
- Unexplained soft tissue growths
Because FNA requires no general anesthesia or surgical incisions, it is often preferred over traditional biopsies. The procedure takes less than 30 minutes and recovery is immediate.
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 Choose Dr. Nadelman for Their Biopsy
Patients from across Southern California and beyond choose Dr. Nadelman for one key reason, her care model is built around speed, accuracy, and compassion. As a board certified cytopathologist, she is uniquely qualified to both perform the biopsy and make the diagnosis, streamlining the entire process.
Here is what makes her practice different:
- You receive your consultation, ultrasound, FNA biopsy, and preliminary results all under one roof. That means one bill, one physician, and no surprises.
- Most patients get preliminary results within 24 hours, eliminating long periods of worry. Dr. Nadelman personally performs and interprets every procedure.
- Whether your lump is visible or deep under the skin, Dr. Nadelman uses the most appropriate technique to ensure a successful sample is collected.
- Her clinic accepts most PPO insurance plans and Medicare, and cash-pay options are available at a significantly lower cost than large institutions.
- Appointments are available as soon as the next day. There are no long referral loops or slow intake systems to navigate.
- The office environment is calm, private, and focused on relieving the anxiety that often comes with biopsies. Every patient is treated with the care they deserve.
Next-Day Appointments for FNA Biopsies Near Escondido
It is common for hospitals and imaging centers to have long waitlists for biopsy appointments. This leads to unnecessary anxiety, especially when patients are concerned about cancer or complex diagnoses.
Dr. Nadelman’s office offers next-day appointments for most FNA procedures. From consultation to imaging to diagnosis, everything happens in one place, often in a single visit.
No separate appointments. No waiting weeks for lab results. Just experienced, efficient care from one highly trained specialist.
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 Serves Patients from Escondido, California
If you live in or near Escondido and have been advised to get a biopsy, you don’t have to wait weeks or settle for impersonal hospital systems. Dr. Celina Nadelman provides prompt, expert diagnostic services just a short drive away in Beverly Hills. Call 310.742.1979 to schedule an appointment today.
How to Get to Dr. Nadelman’s Office from Escondido
Office Address: 8670 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 200, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Driving directions:
- Take I-15 North and merge onto I-5 North
- Transition to I-405 North toward Santa Monica
- Exit onto Wilshire Boulevard East
- Continue for about 4 miles
- Arrive at Dr. Nadelman’s Beverly Hills office
If you need help coordinating your visit, our team is happy to assist with directions, scheduling, and insurance verification.
Skip the Long Wait Times and Get Answers Fast
At our Beverly Hills clinic, patients from Escondido and all over California come for one reason, results. We understand that waiting is not an option when your health is on the line. That is why we offer next-day appointments, fast preliminary results, and everything you need in one visit.
If you are ready for clarity and care without delay, contact us today to schedule your appointment.
