What to Expect - Needle Biopsy

Patients undergoing a needle biopsy should not eat for 6 - 12 hours before the test. Your health care provider may tell you to avoid aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, or blood thinners such as warfarin for a period of time before the procedure. Always check with your health care provider before changing or stopping any medications.

What to Expect

You sit with your arms resting forward on a table. You should try to keep still and not cough during the biopsy. The doctor will ask you to hold your breath. The skin is scrubbed and a local pain-killing medicine (anesthetic) is injected.

The physician will make a small (about 1/8-inch) cut in the skin, and will insert the biopsy needle into the abnormal tissue, tumor, or lung tissue. A small piece of tissue is removed with the needle and sent to a laboratory for examination.

After the Procedure

When the biopsy is done, pressure is placed over the site. Once bleeding has stopped, a bandage is applied. A chest x-ray is taken immediately after the biopsy. The procedure usually takes 30 - 60 minutes. Laboratory analysis usually takes a few days.