Fine-needle aspiration is a method of collecting cells from the breast, liver, mouth, neck, lymph nodes, genitals, respiratory tract, or thyroid to look for signs of cancer, infection, or other conditions. During a fine-needle aspiration, a health professional inserts a thin needle into a suspicious lump and removes cells that are then examined under a microscope.

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	C. Dale Mercer, MD, FRCSC, FACS - General Surgery
Last Revised	March 29, 2011