Skip to main content
Professional Technical IVT

FNAB

Also written as: FNAB — Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy

Fine needle aspiration biopsy, a diagnostic procedure to obtain tissue samples from ocular tumors.

Full Definition

Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is a minimally invasive diagnostic technique used to obtain cellular material from suspicious intraocular masses for cytological and molecular analysis. In ocular oncology, FNAB is particularly valuable for sampling choroidal and ciliary body lesions when the diagnosis remains uncertain after clinical and imaging evaluation. The procedure involves inserting a fine-gauge needle through the sclera to aspirate cells from the tumor. While FNAB provides important diagnostic information and can guide treatment decisions, it carries theoretical risks including tumor seeding along the needle tract and requires careful patient selection and expert interpretation of cytological findings.

Usage

Usage note: Always spell out on first use in clinical documents.

In Context

  • "FNAB of the ciliary body mass yielded melanoma cells with epithelioid morphology." — Pathology consultation
  • "The oncology team recommended FNAB to confirm the diagnosis before initiating systemic therapy." — Multidisciplinary team meeting notes

Also known as

fine needle biopsy

Don't confuse with

core needle biopsy incisional biopsy

Editors from these organisations have used our services since 1998

Reuters BBC Oxford University Press Penguin Random House Springer Microsoft Suncor Energy United Nations Fisher Investments IBM The Home Depot KODAK CHEVRON