Читать книгу Modern Techniques in Cytopathology - Группа авторов - Страница 10

To date, several didactic and hands-on courses are available to cytopathologists to learn USFNA. The College of American Pathologists’ AP3 multiday course covers topics including the basic physics of US, criteria for stratifying risk of malignancy of a lesion based on US criteria, techniques of needle placement using US guidance, importance and practice of specimen preparation and smearing, and medical coding. If the participant passes two practical examinations and a written exam, a certificate valid for 5 years is awarded for this accomplishment. Other learning venues include courses offered by The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE). USFNA courses and poster presentations are now a part of meetings sponsored by the ASC, USCAP, CAP, and ASCP.

Cytologists are eligible to apply for ECNU (Endocrine Certification in Neck Ultrasound) certification. For such certification, the candidate must pass the Comprehensive Certification Examination (CCE) and successfully complete the Validation of Competency Process (VCP). Cytologists who pass this rigorous curriculum may use the ECNU designation after their names.

Taking a course in USFNA is just the beginning of learning the art of US-guided needle placement and correlating mass image characteristics resulting in an integrated cytologic diagnosis. Dedicated practice is needed since every patient can present a slightly different challenge to the aspirating physician, whether that be an anxious or non-compliant patient, body habitus, or location of the mass. Part of what makes USFNA an interesting and challenging endeavor is having to tailor each FNA procedure to the needs of the individual patient. Learning to target specific areas in a mass to within a few millimeters is an art. This takes practice, but when accomplished is very satisfying. The prescription is practice, practice, practice!