Expert FNA Biopsy Services in Bakersfield
Finding a lump can be alarming, and getting a biopsy is essential. Dr. Celina Nadelman, an FNA biopsy doctor in Bakersfield, offers the expertise and care you need. As both a board-certified cytopathologist and FNA specialist, she provides precise, minimally invasive diagnostic procedures with quick results.
Why Choose Dr. Nadelman for Your FNA Biopsy in Bakersfield?
- Dual Expertise: Dr. Nadelman’s combination of cytopathology and FNA skills ensures accurate results and compassionate patient care. As a cytopathologist, she is trained in analyzing cells for diagnosis, making her highly qualified to interpret biopsy samples in real-time with Rapid On-Site Evaluation (ROSE). This expertise reduces the risk of inadequate or inaccurate results, ensuring the highest level of care.
- Patient-Focused, Fast Care: Unlike major biopsy centers with long wait times and disconnected care, Dr. Nadelman can schedule you within 24-48 hours, and results are often available the same day, significantly faster than surgical biopsies.
- Minimally Invasive, Maximum Precision: She specializes in ultrasound-guided FNA, which ensures accurate sample collection. FNA biopsies are less invasive, causing minimal discomfort and requiring less recovery time than surgical biopsies. This means faster, more comfortable patient care without sacrificing accuracy.
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.
Ultrasound-Guided FNA: A Minimally Invasive Option
Ultrasound-guided Fine Needle Aspiration offers precision by using real-time imaging. Dr. Nadelman ensures the most accurate and efficient procedure with minimal discomfort.
Benefits of FNA Over Surgical Biopsy
- Less Invasive: Requires only a small incision.
- Faster Recovery: Minimal pain and shorter recovery time.
- Lower Cost: Generally less expensive than surgery.
- Quick Results: Results available within a few days.
Faster, Accurate Results for Bakersfield Patients
While Dr. Nadelman’s primary clinic is in Beverly Hills, Bakersfield patients can travel quickly to her office for fast, accurate care. The distance between Bakersfield and Los Angeles is about 100 miles, a 1-hour and 45-minute drive. Patients needing urgent, expert-level care will find that this short trip is worth the reassurance of accurate diagnoses and personalized, attentive care.
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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 Services All of Bakersfield, CA
For fast, accurate, and compassionate biopsy services, contact Dr. Celina Nadelman today to schedule your FNA biopsy in Bakersfield. Call us at 310.742.1979 for immediate scheduling.
Directions from Bakersfield to Dr. Nadelman’s Clinic in Los Angeles:
- Head south on CA-99 from Bakersfield.
- Take I-5 South towards Los Angeles.
- Merge onto I-405 South, and take exit 55B to Wilshire Blvd.
- Dr. Nadelman’s office is located at 8670 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA.
Why Travel from Bakersfield?
Many large biopsy centers have long wait times, often delaying essential care. At Dr. Nadelman’s clinic, we prioritize your health, offering next-day or even same-day appointments. You won’t have to wait weeks for results; we can provide answers within 24-48 hours, giving you peace of mind with quick, accurate diagnoses.
