Needle biopsy - Mayo Clinic
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Needle biopsy Open pop-up dialog box Close Needle biopsy
Needle biopsy
During needle biopsy, a long, thin needle is inserted through the skin and into the suspicious area. Cells are removed and analyzed to see if they are cancerous. Core needle biopsy Open pop-up dialog box Close Core needle biopsy
Core needle biopsy
A core needle biopsy uses a long, hollow tube to obtain a sample of tissue. Here, a biopsy of a suspicious breast lump is being done. The sample is sent to a lab for testing and evaluation by doctors, called pathologists. They specialize in analyzing blood and body tissue. A needle biopsy is a procedure to obtain a sample of cells from your body for laboratory testing. Common needle biopsy procedures include fine-needle aspiration and core needle biopsy. Needle biopsy may be used to take tissue or fluid samples from muscles, bones, and other organs, such as the liver or lungs. Products & Services
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Your doctor may suggest a needle biopsy to help diagnose a medical condition or to rule out a disease or condition. The sample from your needle biopsy may help your doctor determine what's causing: A mass or lump. A needle biopsy may reveal whether a mass or lump is a cyst, an infection, a benign tumor or cancer. An infection. Analysis from a needle biopsy can help doctors determine what germs are causing an infection so that your doctor can choose the most effective medications. Inflammation. A needle biopsy sample may reveal what's causing inflammation, and what types of cells are involved. You may also undergo imaging tests, such as a computerized tomography (CT) scan or an ultrasound, before your needle biopsy. Sometimes these tests are used during the needle biopsy procedure to more accurately locate the area to be biopsied. More Information
Atypical hyperplasia of the breastBarrett's esophagusBartholin's cystBone cancerBreast cystsCardiomyopathyCholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer)Colon polypsDuctal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)Ewing sarcomaFibroadenomaGastritisGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)GliomaHemochromatosisInflammatory bowel disease (IBD)LaryngitisLichen sclerosusLiver diseaseLobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)Male breast cancerMesotheliomaMorpheaMouth cancerNonalcoholic fatty liver diseasePancreatic cancerParotid tumorsPeptic ulcerProctitisRectovaginal fistulaSalivary gland tumorsSjogren's syndromeSwollen lymph nodesThroat cancerThyroid cancerThyroid nodulesVaginal cancerVulvar cancerShow more related information Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Risks
Needle biopsy carries a small risk of bleeding and infection at the site where the needle was inserted. Some mild pain can be expected after needle biopsy, though it is usually controlled with over-the-counter pain relievers. Call your doctor if you experience: Fever Pain at the biopsy site that worsens or isn't helped by medications Swelling at the biopsy site Drainage from the biopsy site Bleeding that doesn't stop with pressure or a bandage How you prepare
Most needle biopsy procedures don't require any preparation on your part. However, you may be asked to stop taking blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin (Jantoven) or aspirin, in the days before your biopsy. Depending on what part of your body will be biopsied, your doctor may ask you not to eat or drink before the procedure. Preparing for sedation or general anesthesia
In certain situations, you may receive intravenous (IV) sedatives or general anesthetics before your needle biopsy. If this is the case, your doctor may ask you to fast the day before your procedure. Tell your doctor about any medications you're taking, as you may need to stop taking certain medications before undergoing anesthesia. You won't be able to return to work or drive immediately if your needle biopsy is done during IV sedation or general anesthesia. Depending on your duties, you may be able to return to work in 24 hours. Talk to your doctor about when it's safe to return to work. Make arrangements or ask friends or family to: Drive you home Stay with you for 24 hours Help with household chores for a day or two What you can expect
During the needle biopsy
Kidney biopsy Open pop-up dialog box Close Kidney biopsy
Kidney biopsy
During a kidney biopsy, your doctor uses a needle to remove a small sample of kidney tissue for lab testing. The biopsy needle is inserted through your skin and is often directed using the guidance of an imaging device, such as ultrasound. Liver biopsy Open pop-up dialog box Close Liver biopsy
Liver biopsy
A liver biopsy is a procedure to remove a small sample of liver tissue for laboratory testing. A liver biopsy is commonly performed by inserting a thin needle through your skin and into your liver. Your health care team will position you in a way that makes it safe for the doctor to access the area where the needle will be inserted. You may be asked to lie flat on a table. You may undergo imaging procedures, such as a CT scan or ultrasound. These allow your doctor to see the target area and plan the best way to proceed. Imaging procedures are sometimes done before your needle biopsy and sometimes performed during the biopsy. What type of imaging you'll undergo, if any, will depend on what part of your body is being biopsied. Your health care team will clean the area of your body where the needle will be inserted. An anesthetic may be injected into the skin around the area to numb it. In some cases, you'll receive an IV sedative or other medication to relax you during the procedure. Sometimes general anesthesia is used during a needle biopsy. If this is the case, you'll receive medications through a vein in your arm that will relax you and put you in a sleep-like state. During the needle biopsy, the doctor guides a needle through your skin and into the area of interest. A sample of cells is collected and the needle is withdrawn. This process may be repeated several times until enough cells are collected. Common types of needle biopsy techniques include: Fine-needle aspiration. This type of needle biopsy uses a thin, hollow needle to draw cells from your body. Core needle biopsy. This type of needle biopsy uses a wider needle than does fine-needle aspiration. The needle used during a core needle biopsy is a hollow tube that allows the doctor to extract a sample of tissue for testing. You may experience mild discomfort during your needle biopsy, such as a sensation of pressure in the area. Tell your health care team if you're feeling uncomfortable. After the needle biopsy
Once your doctor has collected enough cells or tissue for analysis, your needle biopsy procedure is complete. Your biopsy sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis. The results may be available in a few days, though more technical tests may require more time. Ask your doctor how long you can expect to wait. Your health care team may apply a bandage over the area where the needle was inserted. You may be asked to apply pressure to the bandage for several minutes to ensure there is minimal bleeding. In most cases, you can leave when your needle biopsy procedure is completed. Whether you can leave right away or whether you'll need to stay for observation depends on what part of your body was biopsied. In some cases, your health care team may want to observe you for a few hours to ensure you won't have complications from your biopsy. If you received an IV sedative or general anesthetic, you'll be taken to a comfortable place to relax while the medication wears off. Plan to take it easy for the rest of the day. Protect the area where you received the needle biopsy by keeping the bandage in place for as long as instructed. You may feel some mild pain or discomfort in the area, but this should go away in a day or two. Results
Doctors who specialize in studying cells and tissue samples for signs of disease (pathologists) will study the biopsy sample in the laboratory and make a diagnosis. These doctors will create a pathology report for your doctor. Once your doctor receives the report, he or she will contact you with the results. You can request a copy of your pathology report from your doctor. Pathology reports are usually filled with technical terms, so you may find it helpful to have your doctor review the report with you. Your pathology report may include: A description of the biopsy sample. This section of the pathology report, sometimes called the gross description, describes the biopsy sample in general. For instance, it may describe the color and consistency of the tissues or fluid collected by the needle biopsy procedure. Or it may say how many slides were submitted for laboratory analysis. A description of the cells. This section of the pathology report describes how the cells appear under a microscope. It may include how many cells and what types of cells were seen. Information on special dyes that were used to study the cells may be included. The pathologist's diagnosis. This section of the pathology report lists the pathologist's diagnosis. It may also include comments, such as whether other tests are recommended. The results of your needle biopsy will determine the next steps in your medical care. Talk with your doctor about what your results mean for you. Clinical trials
Explore Mayo Clinic studies of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions. By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Doctors & Departments Aug. 20, 2022 Print Share on: FacebookTwitter Show references Biopsy. Cancer.Net. https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/diagnosing-cancer/tests-and-procedures/biopsy. Accessed Nov. 18, 2020. Biopsies - Overview. RadiologyInfo.org. https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=BiopGen. Accessed Nov. 18, 2020. Recovery. American Society of Anesthesiologists. https://www.asahq.org/madeforthismoment/preparing-for-surgery/recovery/. Accessed Nov. 18, 2020. Pathology reports. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/diagnosis-staging/diagnosis/pathology-reports-fact-sheet. Accessed Nov. 18, 2020. Giridhar KV (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Nov. 18, 2020. Related
Atypical hyperplasia of the breast Barrett's esophagus Bartholin's cyst Bone cancer Brain tumor Breast cysts Cancer Cancer treatment myths Cardiomyopathy Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) Colon polyps Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly) Ewing sarcoma Fibroadenoma Fine-needle aspiration Gastritis Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Glioma Hemochromatosis Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) Kidney biopsy Laryngitis Lichen sclerosus Liver disease Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) Male breast cancer Mesothelioma Morphea Mouth cancer Nasopharyngeal carcinoma Needle biopsy Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease Pancreatic cancer Parotid tumors Peptic ulcer Proctitis Rectovaginal fistula Salivary gland tumors Sjogren's syndrome Soft tissue sarcoma Spinal cord tumor Swollen lymph nodes Throat cancer Thyroid cancer Thyroid nodules Ultrasound-guided breast biopsy Vaginal cancer Vertebral tumor Vulvar cancer Show more related content Products & Services
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