The procedure is quick, easy, inexpensive and is a low risk procedure. The lesion may contain areas of neoplasia and inflammation and sample may be unrepresentative. It provides no information with regard to micro-architectural changes. Experience required in interpretation which is only gained by practice. It may differentiate neoplastic from an inflammatory process.
Technique depends upon gross appearance, location, likely diagnosis and probable treatment.
Collect material from skin or from a discharging sinus lesions. For collection of material from dry skin , moisten the swab in sterile saline and collect sample. Fine needle aspiration biopsy is used for the investigation of solid masses and lymph nodes. Small number of cells are collected which may or may not be truly representative of the pathology present. The softer the tissue, the smaller the syringe required.