Percutaneous Biopsy

A biopsy is a procedure that involves removing and examining a small sample of body tissue to diagnose or evaluate a condition. Percutaneous biopsy is a type of biopsy performed by an interventional radiologist who uses live imaging (X-ray, ultrasound or computed tomography) and a biopsy needle to obtain a tissue sample from inside the body.

Percutaneous biopsy can be used to obtain tissue samples from the following areas:

Neck (lymph nodes and thyroid)
Chest (lung, mediastinum and pleural masses)
Abdomen (liver, spleen, kidney, pancreas and soft tissue masses)
Pelvis (masses within the pelvis)
Musculoskeletal (biopsy of bone and soft tissue masses)

After the sample is removed, a pathologist examines it to confirm or make a diagnosis or evaluate a previously diagnosed condition. Percutaneous biopsy is used to diagnose and evaluate a wide variety of conditions, including liver disease, cancer, benign tumors and infections.

A percutaneous biopsy normally takes about an hour, including any sedation or anesthesia your child may need. The procedure may be performed on an inpatient or outpatient basis.

What to Expect

You can expect the following during a percutaneous biopsy procedure:

Your child will be given a sedative and monitored closely by an anesthesiologist.
The interventional radiologist will guide a needle to the proper location and remove a sample of tissue through the needle.
After the procedure is complete, your child will be taken to a recovery room to wake up.
Once your child awakens, he or she will be observed for two to four hours.
Your child may need to stay overnight in the hospital for observation depending on his or her condition.
The tissue sample will be sent to a lab to be evaluated. Your child's doctor will discuss the results with you when they are ready. Results are usually ready in three to five days.

Some pain and possibly bleeding are normal for this procedure. Rarely, infection can happen where the needle was inserted. Biopsy samples can be taken from almost anywhere on the body and sometimes from deep within the body. It is possible for the biopsy needle to damage other organs during the procedure. This may result in bleeding and can be treated with embolization.

Key Points to Remember

Percutaneous biopsies are used to diagnose many conditions, from benign tumors to liver disease.
Your child will be sedated during the percutaneous biopsy procedure.
Your child's doctor will discuss the results of the biopsy with you once the tissue has been analyzed.