Aspiration

The withdrawal of fluid or cells from the body by suction. The term also refers to the act of accidentally inhaling a foreign body, usually food or drink. If consciousness is impaired, for example by a head injury or excess alcohol intake, aspiration of the stomach contents is common. Aspiration biopsy is the removal of cells or fluid for examination using a needle and syringe. The procedure is commonly used to obtain cells from a fluid-filled cavity (such as a breast lump or breast cyst). It is also used to obtain cells from the bone marrow (see bone marrow biopsy), or from internal organs, when a fine needle is guided into the site of the biopsy by CT scanning or ultrasound scanning.