Abdominal fluid aspiration / pleural aspiration
Abdominal fluid aspiration / pleural aspiration are procedures to remove fluid from the tummy (abdominal) area or the lungs (pleural aspiration).
Abdominal fluid aspiration
If you get a build-up of fluid in your abdomen (ascites), a fine needle can be used to take a sample of fluid to see if it has any cancer cells. This needle can be inserted with the help of ultrasound. Some fluid is taken and then examined under a microscope. This procedure can be referred to as paracentesis (“para-sent-tee-sis”).
Pleural aspiration
With pleural aspiration, the needle is used to take a sample of fluid from your chest. The fluid can be examined for cancer cells.
How are aspiration tests done?
Your doctor will numb the area with a local anaesthetic.
A fine needle will be put through your skin. The needle is used to take a sample of cells. Your doctor may need to use an ultrasound or CT scanner to guide the needle to the right place. The test takes about 15 minutes.
You might feel a little pressure or a prick when the needle goes in. The area might feel a bit tender for a few hours afterwards.
After the test you may feel a little bit sore or have a bruise where the needle went in.
The sample of cells / fluid will be sent to a laboratory to be examined. It may take a week or two to get the results.
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