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Assessment of the risk of disease transmission during fine-needle aspiration cytology under ultrasound guidance by visualization of droplet and aerosol formation

  • Original Article–Miscellaneous area
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A Letter to the Editor to this article was published on 04 August 2022

Abstract

Purpose

Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) under ultrasound guidance is clinically useful, but there is a risk of spreading infection by generating droplets of contaminated fluids during the procedure. Risk assessment to better control infection remains to be established. The aim of this study was to estimate infection risks during FNAC by visualization of droplet production and deposition using a simulation model.

Methods

The simulation comprised a puncture needle, a device for holding the needle, and a fluid specimen containing fluorescent particles as a model. Simulating each step of FNAC (removal of the inner and outer cylinder and transferring the specimen onto a glass slide), the generation and deposition of droplets were visualized using a laser.

Results

After removal of the inner cylinder, an aerosol of droplets in the air surrounding the needle was observed. After removal of the outer cylinder, several large droplets precipitating onto the circumjacent surface were observed. From the beginning of transferring the specimen, a large amount of sizeable droplets first moving away and then precipitating was observed, followed by the production of a cluster of fine droplets drifting and spreading through the air.

Conclusions

Here, the generation of droplets at each step of FNAC, precipitation of large droplets onto the circumjacent surface, and drifting and spreading through the air of fine droplets was visualized. These results emphasize the need for precautions to prevent the transmission of infectious agents during FNAC.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan

    Kei Konno, Harumi Koibuchi, Sayaka Yamamoto, Yamato Tada, Toru Kameda & Nobuyuki Taniguchi

Authors
  1. Kei Konno
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  2. Harumi Koibuchi
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  3. Sayaka Yamamoto
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  4. Yamato Tada
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  5. Toru Kameda
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  6. Nobuyuki Taniguchi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kei Konno.

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Conflict of interest

Kei Konno disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: this study was supported by a grant-in-aid from the Foundation for Development of the Community. Harumi Koibuchi, Sayaka Yamamoto, Yamato Tada, Toru Kameda, and Nobuyuki Taniguchi declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Konno, K., Koibuchi, H., Yamamoto, S. et al. Assessment of the risk of disease transmission during fine-needle aspiration cytology under ultrasound guidance by visualization of droplet and aerosol formation. J Med Ultrasonics 49, 471–480 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-022-01220-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10396-022-01220-8

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