From the Guidelines
Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies of groin lymph nodes are typically performed by the Interventional Radiology department in most hospitals. This procedure involves using ultrasound or CT guidance to precisely locate and sample the lymph node with a thin needle. In some hospitals, this procedure might also be performed by general surgeons, surgical oncologists, or occasionally by cytopathologists with specialized training. The choice of department depends on the hospital's specific organization and the complexity of the case. Interventional radiologists are preferred for this procedure because they have specialized training in image-guided procedures, which increases accuracy and reduces complications when sampling deep or small lymph nodes, as supported by studies such as 1 and 1.
Some key points to consider:
- The sensitivity and specificity for detecting metastatic involvement were 86% and 96% for US with Doppler alone but increased to 93% and 100% for US-guided FNAB, respectively, as reported by Hall et al 1.
- The collected sample is then sent to the pathology department for analysis to determine if there are any abnormal cells present, which helps diagnose conditions like infections, cancer, or inflammatory disorders.
- Patients should expect minimal discomfort during this outpatient procedure, which typically takes 30-60 minutes to complete.
- According to the European Association of Urology-American Society of Clinical Oncology collaborative guideline on penile cancer: 2023 update 1, inguinal US + fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of sonographically abnormal nodes can reduce the need for dynamic sentinel node biopsy (DSNB) when tumour-positive, allowing for earlier therapeutic LN dissection.
Overall, the Interventional Radiology department is the most suitable department for performing FNA biopsies of groin lymph nodes due to their expertise in image-guided procedures, which is crucial for accurate and safe sampling of lymph nodes.
From the Research
Hospital Department for Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy of Lymph Nodes
The department in the hospital that performs fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of lymph nodes in the groin is not explicitly stated in the provided studies. However, based on the information given, we can make some inferences:
- FNA biopsy is a procedure that can be performed by various medical specialties, including pathology, radiology, and surgery.
- The studies provided discuss the use of FNA biopsy in the diagnosis of lymphoma and other conditions, but do not specifically mention the department responsible for performing the procedure in the groin area.
Possible Departments Involved
Some possible departments that may be involved in performing FNA biopsy of lymph nodes in the groin include:
- Radiology department: This department may be involved in guiding the FNA biopsy procedure using imaging modalities such as ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) scans 2.
- Pathology department: This department may be responsible for interpreting the results of the FNA biopsy and providing a diagnosis 3, 4.
- Surgery department: This department may be involved in performing the FNA biopsy procedure, especially if it is part of a larger surgical procedure.
Limitations of the Studies
It is worth noting that the studies provided do not specifically address the question of which department performs FNA biopsy of lymph nodes in the groin. Therefore, the answer to this question cannot be determined with certainty based on the available evidence.