Tell your health care provider:

• If you are pregnant
• If you have any drug allergies
• If you have bleeding problems
• What medications you are taking (including any supplements or herbal remedies)

Your doctor may ask you to:

• Stop taking any blood thinners, such as aspirin, heparin, or warfarin 5 - 7 days before the procedure
• Not eat or drink anything after a certain period of time before the biopsy
• Arrive at a certain time for the procedure

You must sign a consent form.

When the local anesthetic is injected, you will feel a prick and a mild stinging. The biopsy site will be sore for a few days after the test.

After an open biopsy, the pain is mild and you can easily control it with an over-the-counter pain medication. You may also notice some bruising or fluid leaking for a few days. The wound should heal in 10 - 14 days. During this time, avoid any type of intense exercise or heavy lifting.

The test is used to diagnose cancer or an infection:

• When you or your doctor feel swollen glands and they do not go away
• When lymph nodes are present on a CT or MRI scan
• For some patients with breast cancer or melanoma, to see if the cancer has spread (sentinel lymph node biopsy)

The results of the biopsy help your doctor decide on further tests and treatments.

Images

Lymph node metastases, CT scan

Lymphatic system

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Review Date: 09/10/2010
Reviewed By: Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)