 Needle Biopsy
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A needle biopsy performed in the Department of Radiology is an invasive procedure in which a needle is passed through the skin, using image guidance, into an abnormal organ in order to obtain a small amount of tissue for diagnostic purposes.
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At Children's Hospital Boston, a needle biopsy can be performed with image guidance by experienced interventional radiologists. Image guidance permits precise placement of the needle into the abnormal tissue with minimal risk of damage to adjacent organs. Interventional radiologists at Children's Hospital Boston have appropriate training and experience in performing invasive procedures in infants and children. Radiology technologists and nurses are also experienced and trained in the care of children undergoing these procedures. Children's Hospital Boston is equipped with all of the necessary imaging equipment for these procedures and is capable of obtaining sophisticated pathology and genetic processing of these specimens.
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A biopsy may be necessary to learn the nature of a newly diagnosed mass lesion. The most common causes of mass lesions include tumors and infection. Also, biopsy is often performed to determine the type and severity of kidney and liver disease.
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Image-guided needle biopsy, when performed by an interventional radiologist with appropriate training and experience, is a safe technique. Like all invasive procedures, complications and side effects may occur. These will be explained to you in detail before you give your consent. The pierce of the needle through the skin may cause some discomfort but this will be minimized as much as possible by the use of local anesthetics (numbing medication) and sedation medication. If necessary, general anesthesia is available.
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You will be given written instructions at the time of scheduling the procedure. Preparation for needle biopsy includes not eating solid food for eight hours prior to the procedure and not drinking clear fluids for three hours prior to the procedure. Additional blood tests and imaging examinations (computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound) may be needed prior to the biopsy procedure.
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Image-guided needle biopsy is performed in the Radiology Department by an interventional radiologist. Needle biopsy is most often performed with ultrasound guidance. The radiologist examines the area to be biopsied with an ultrasound probe. The patient's skin is cleaned with a special iodine solution and sterile drapes are placed over the area to avoid infection. Local anesthetic (numbing medication) is injected into the skin. Once the area is numb, the radiologist passes a special type of needle through the skin into the area of abnormality. When the needle is removed, it contains a small piece of tissue. This tissue sample is examined by a pathologist before the procedure is completed in order to make sure that an adequate specimen has been obtained.
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The radiologist is able to use ultrasound, computed tomography, or x-ray monitors to guide the needle through the skin into the area of abnormality. The ability to see the structures inside the body during needle passage permits the radiologist to accurately place the needle and avoid adjacent organs. The pathologist is then able to examine the tissue to determine what type of cells or infectious organisms it contains. In the case of certain tumors, additional specimens can be obtained in the same manner and studied for their genetic content.
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Immediately after the procedure, the radiologist will tell you how the procedure went and whether he biopsy was adequate. However, the final analysis of the biopsy by the pathologist and geneticist will require additional time and the results will be relayed to you by your physician.
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Further information regarding the biopsy can be obtained by calling the Interventional Radiology Office at 617-355-6579. The appropriate person will return your call and answer your questions.
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