This information is for patients who are having a tiny sample taken as a biopsy. It explains what is involved and what significant risks there may be.
A biopsy involves the removal of a few cells or tiny sample (a biopsy) of an organ or tissue using a needle.
Reasons for having a biopsy
The doctor’s examination and other tests (such as an ultrasound scan, a CT scan or a blood test) may have suggested some abnormality. This can be confirmed by taking a biopsy of the area of abnormality for the laboratory to examine in detail and may save you from having an operation.
Your appointment
- You will be sent a letter with details of the date and time of your appointment.
- It is a day case procedure.
- If you take anticoagulant medication (‘blood thinners’ such as Warfarin, Apixaban, Rivaroxaban, Clopidogrel etc.) please contact the Imaging Nurses on the number at the end of this leaflet as you may need to stop taking them before the biopsy.
- If you are diabetic and need to fast (stop eating and/or drinking) before your appointment, please call the Diabetes Specialist Nurses on 01582 718050 or your GP for advice on how to manage your diabetes safely. Please call them as soon as possible as they may take a day or two to get back to you.
Preparation
- You may need to have some blood tests before the procedure (up to ten days beforehand), to check whether you have an increased risk of bleeding. The person who requested the biopsy should arrange these for you.
- Please stop eating and drinking 4 hours before the biopsy appointment time.
- This procedure will be done under local anaesthetic while you are awake.
- Please bring your dressing gown and slippers with you if you have them.
On arrival at the hospital
- On arrival you should go to the area specified on your appointment letter at the time stated. This will be at least an hour before your biopsy appointment to allow preparation time.
- First, an admitting Nurse will meet you and check your details and take your blood pressure and pulse and you may also see a ward doctor.
- An Imaging Nurse will see you before your procedure. Please tell the imaging nurse if you have any allergies or asthma and about any medications that you are taking.
- You will be asked to change into a gown but keep your underwear on.
- A radiologist (a specialist doctor) will explain the biopsy procedure and ask you to sign a consent form to confirm that you understand it and agree to go ahead with it. Please ask any questions that you want.
- A nurse will stay with you throughout the procedure.
Procedure
- You will lie on a couch and have a local anaesthetic injection over the site of the biopsy.
- The radiologist who performs the biopsy wears sterile gloves. The skin over the biopsy site will be cleaned with antiseptic and sterile paper towels will protect the area.
- The ultrasound machine (which makes images using sound waves) or CT scanner (using X-Rays) will be used by the radiologist to guide a long needle into the correct spot.
- The long needle is used to extract tiny samples for the laboratory.
- The whole procedure takes about 20-30 minutes.
What it feels like
The local anaesthetic injection will sting at first, but this will soon pass and then the area goes numb. You may be aware of the needle passing into your body and some pressure, but it is not painful.
After the biopsy
- You will return to a ward to recover for about 4 hours.
- You will be advised to stay on bed rest for up to 4 hours to prevent bleeding- you may also be asked to lie on your side or back to further reduce this risk.
- You may experience mild pain afterwards, you will be offered painkillers if this is the case.
- You can eat and drink afterwards.
- The nurse will check your pulse and blood pressure several times before you can go home.
- Please make sure that you arrange for a friend or relative to take you home and that someone will stay with you overnight.
- Any biopsy results will take up to 14 days and will be sent to the doctor that requested the biopsy.
- Please note: you will usually go home the same day; but just occasionally you may need to stay overnight.
Risks or complications
This procedure is safe but there are some risks associated with all procedures.
- Occasionally the biopsy may not be successful, (insufficient cells) so it may need to be repeated.
- There is a small risk of bleeding, but only very rarely is it severe enough to need a blood transfusion or an operation to stop the bleeding.
- Again, very rarely there may be damage to other organs which may require further surgery to repair them.
Please speak to the radiologist before the procedure if you have any concerns about these risks.
For further information
Please phone the Imaging specialist nurses on 01582 718174. To change or cancel your appointment, please call the booking clerk- the number is at the top of your appointment letter.