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Lung needle biopsy |
| Definition: |
| This is a test to obtain a specimen of lung tissue for examination. |
| Alternative Names: |
| Transthoracic needle aspiration; Percutaneous needle aspiration |
| How the test is performed: |
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A chest X-ray or chest CAT scan is often used to identify the area to be biopsied. You sit with your arms resting forward on a table. You should maintain this position and refrain from coughing during the biopsy. The skin is scrubbed and a local anesthetic is injected. A fluoroscope (mobile X-ray camera) or a CAT-scanner may be used to locate the precise spot of the biopsy. (If the biopsy is done using a CAT scan, you may be lying down during the exam.) A small (about 1/8-inch) incision may be made in the skin, and the biopsy needle is inserted into the abnormal tissue, tumor, or lung tissue. A small specimen is removed with the needle and sent to the laboratory. Pressure is placed over the site. Once bleeding has stopped, a bandage is applied. A chest X-ray is obtained immediately after the biopsy. The procedure usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. Laboratory analysis usually takes a few days. |
| How to prepare for the test: |
| Before a needle biopsy of the lung is conducted, a chest X-ray, CT scan of the chest, or bronchoscopy has been performed. Sometimes a mild sedative will precede the biopsy. You must sign a consent form. It is important to remain as still as possible for the biopsy, and to refrain from coughing. Infants and children: The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experiences, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:
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| How the test will feel: |
| A lung needle biopsy is preceded by a local injection of anesthetic, which will sting for a moment. You will feel pressure and a brief, sharp pain when the needle touches the lung. |
| Why the test is performed: |
| A needle lung biopsy is performed when there is an abnormal condition that is near the surface of the lung, in the lung itself, or on the chest wall. The test is usually performed to diagnose relatively large abnormalities seen on chest X-ray or CAT scan. Most often, the abnormality is not believed to be accessible by other diagnostic techniques, such as bronchoscopy. |
| Normal Values: |
| Normal tissues and no microbial growth, if a culture is performed, are normal. |
| What abnormal results mean: |
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| What the risks are: |
| The risks include pneumothorax (a collapsed lung), bleeding, and infection. A needle biopsy should not be performed if other tests indicate the presence of bullae (enlarged alveoli associated with emphysema), cysts, blood coagulation disorder of any type, severe hypoxia (insufficient blood oxygenation), pulmonary hypertension, or cor pulmonale (enlargement of the right ventricle secondary to pulmonary hypertension that results from primary lung diseases -- a type of heart failure). |
| Special considerations: |
| Signs of pneumothorax include shortness of breath, rapid heart rate (pulse), blueness of the skin (late sign). If any of these occur, report them to the health care provider immediately. |
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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