What is a needle biopsy?

A needle biopsy is a medical test which can identify the cause of an abnormal lump or mass in your body. A specially trained doctor known as an interventional radiologist performs this procedure. During the procedure, the interventional radiologist inserts a small needle into the abnormal area and removes a sample of the tissue, which is given to a pathologist, who looks at it under a microscope. The pathologist can determine what the abnormal tissue is: cancer, non-cancerous tumor, infection or scar.

Why do I need a needle biopsy?

The most common reason to need a needle biopsy is to identify the cause of an abnormal lump somewhere deep in your body. Imaging tests such as mammography, ultrasound, CT scan, and magnetic resonance (MRI), can find abnormal masses, but these tests alone cannot always tell your doctors what the lump is. A needle biopsy can determine the cause of an abnormal lump or mass. Your doctors need this information in order to provide you with the best care and treatment.

How do I prepare for a needle biopsy?

Usually, no special preparation is necessary. Your doctor will tell you if any special diet or medication instructions are necessary for you.

What is a needle biopsy procedure like? Will it hurt?

First, the interventional radiologist will use some form of imaging such as CT or ultrasound to determine the best site the biopsy. Next, this specially trained doctor will wash the area where the needle biopsy is going to be performed and put local anesthetic in the skin and deeper tissues to numb the area. Occasionally an intravenous line will be started, so that the interventional radiologist can give you fluids and medicines during your biopsy. The interventional radiologist will then put a small needle into the mass or lump. This doctor will take X-ray, CT, ultrasound, or mammogram images of the biopsy area during the procedure. These internal pictures will help the radiologist to put the needle in exactly the right place. You usually feel some pressure during the procedure. The interventional radiologist will use the biopsy needle to remove a tiny piece of tissue or some cells from the mass. A needle biopsy usually takes about one hour. The tissue (or cell) sample is sent to a pathologist, who will examine the tissue or cells under a microscope. Usually, the results of the biopsy are ready in two to three days.

What happens after the biopsy? Can I go home?

After you biopsy, you will be asked to stay for a time period so that the staff can watch you to make sure that you are alright. Most people go home between one and four hours after their biopsy. Take things easy for the rest of the day after your biopsy. You may be sore in the biopsy area for one to two days.

What are the risks of having a needle biopsy?

A needle biopsy has few risks because such a small needle is used. Complications are very infrequent: fewer than one percent of patients develop bleeding or infection. A member of your interventional radiology team will discuss the risks of your biopsy with your in detail before the procedure starts. In about 90 percent of the patients, the needle biopsy provides enough information for the pathologist to determine the cause of the mass or lump. Occasionally you may be asked to return for a second needle biopsy, or a surgeon may have to do an operation to get the tissue or cell sample.

What are the benefits of having a needle biopsy?

Before needle biopsies were possible, surgery was needed to remove the tissue to be examined. Needle biopsies can often answer questions bout your health without surgery.

Why should I go to an outpatient facility instead of a hospital?

Patients receive individualized care in a pleasant, non-threatening environment. Registration and pre-procedure preparation are streamlined and the cost is significantly lower than in most acute care facilities. Scheduling of procedures can be completed in a more timely fashion and in most cases results are available within 24 to 48 hours. Please note; our outpatient facility should be appropriate for the majority of, but not all biopsy and/or aspiration procedures. Most biopsy procedures are considered low risk. Some procedures such as biopsy of central lung masses carrying a significant risk of pneumothorax, or biopsy of solid organs in the face of a coagulation disorder are more safely performed in an acute-care setting. Each case is reviewed by one of our interventional radiologists to determine if it can be performed safely and appropriately in our outpatient facility.

What biopsy, aspiration/drainage, and other minimally-invasive procedures are provided at Advanced Medical Imaging?

For several years Advanced Medical Imaging - Diamond Hill has provided limited outpatient minimally invasive x-ray guided procedures. These procedures include; arthrography, myelography, nerve-block procedures, discography, epidural steroid injections, breast aspiration and biopsy and thyroid biopsy. This program has recently expanded to include a greater spectrum of percutaneous biopsy and aspiration /drainage procedures. We also provide CT- and Ultrasound-guided soft tissue and deep organ biopsies as well as diagnostic and therapeutic thoracentesis and paracentesis procedures. Other guidance modalities available include; fluoroscopy, ultrasound and computed tomography.

Who performs these procedures?

The five board-certified interventional radiologists that perform these procedures include Drs. Ray Mencini, Tim Moore, Jeff Moulton, Clint Anderson and Christopher Leoni. The pre-operative and short stay recovery unit is staffed by experienced RN's. The nursing and physician staff at Advanced Medical Imaging will provide pre-procedure education and post-procedure follow-up for their patients.

Some of the above information was provided by Society of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology 1992.