• No special preparation is required.
• Blood may have to be taken to check for any clotting problems. This may be done the day before or on the morning of the procedure.
• Fasting may be necessary for 4-6 hours prior to the procedure, depending on the site for biopsy.
• If it is arranged for you to do the procedure as a day case, please come early to the hospital for admission, at least 2 hours prior to your appointment.
• If it is to be done as an outpatient, please bring along a companion and be punctual for your appointment.
• If you are already in the hospital, you will be transported to the department at your appointed time.

• Some form of imaging equipment is used e.g., X-ray, CT, Ultrasound or Mammography to determine the site of the mass and the best route of entry.
• The area will be cleaned and the radiologist will give you a local anaesthetic injection to numb the skin and soft tissue over the area in question.
• You will be awake during the biopsy but you should have little or no discomfort.
• Sometimes an intravenous line will be started so that you can receive fluids and medicines during the procedure.
• The radiologist will use the imaging equipment to guide the small needle into the mass or lump. You may feel some pressure during the procedure.
• Using a biopsy needle, the radiologist will remove a tiny piece of tissue or some cells from the abnormal area.
• The tissue is sent to the laboratory for examination under a microscope.
• The tiny skin incision is closed with a small compression dressing.
• For breast lesions, a clip may be placed at the site where the mass is to ensure that the site can be easily located for additional surgery if this is necessary.
• Sometimes, repeated passes with the needle may be necessary in order to obtain an adequate sample.
• The examination is completed in less than an hour.

• You will stay in the department for a brief time so that the staff can make sure you are alright.
• You will then be transported to a day surgery bed to rest.
• Mostly you may go home after about one to four hours after the biopsy.
• In the case of a lung biopsy, serial chest x-rays may be taken to detect and track any air leaks as a result of the biopsy.
• Keep physical activity to a minimum for the remainder of the day after the biopsy.
• The biopsy area may be tender or sore for one or two days.

BENEFITS

• Needle biopsy is an alternative to surgical biopsy.
• It can often answer whether a mass is cancerous or not without the need for surgery.

RISKS

• There are a few risks as a small needle is used.
• Complications are infrequent and fewer than 1% of patients develop bleeding or infection.
• In about 90% of patient, needle biopsy provides enough information to determine the cause of the abnormality. Occasionally, a second needle biopsy or surgery biopsy is required.
• For lung needle biopsies, there is a risk of coughing up blood. This is usually small and self-limiting. There is also a risk of an air leak into the chest space surrounding the lung. This is called a pneumothorax . If it is large, it may cause the lung or part of the lung to collapse. When this happens, a small tube may need to be inserted into the chest cavity to drain away the air.