Because of its limited mobility and sampling, cutting needle biopsy results in a higher number of false-negatives. A core of tissue is obtained that requires either a frozen section or fixation before tissue processing and interpretation. Both methods, frozen section and fixation, are more costly and time-consuming, with the latter requiring at least a day. FNA advantages also include the elimination of anesthesia, minimal tissue trauma, and absence of scar formation. The short length of time from procedure to diagnosis spares unnecessary anxiety for patients with benign lesions.
Operative time is reduced.
The simplicity of the procedure lends itself to quick mastery, low overhead, and utility as an office, clinic, bedside, or intraoperative procedure. FNA can facilitate scheduling and assessment of patients for outpatient vs inpatient procedures. Finally, FNA allows hospitals to manage a larger number of patients with more efficiency and economy without sacrificing quality of care. This three-dimensional structure is an entire frond of papillary carcinoma. The principal drawback to FNA is false-negative diagnoses.