Needle biopsy
Disease Information
Overview
A needle biopsy is a diagnostic procedure in which we use a needle to obtain tissue samples from an organ, bone or mass. The Division of Interventional Radiology uses computed tomography (CT), ultrasound and x-ray to guide the needle through the skin into the area that needs to be sampled.
How Boston Children's Hospital approaches needle biopsies
Our pediatric interventional radiologists, the doctors who do the procedure, are highly trained in the performance of invasive procedures on infants and children.
In addition to the interventional radiologist, your child will be cared for by a team of anesthesiologists, nurse practitioners, nurses and technologists who specialize in caring for children undergoing interventional radiology procedures and treatments.
We perform needle biopsies in our suite on the second floor of the hospital, which features three procedure rooms equipped with the latest imaging technology, a recovery area for patients who have received sedation or anesthesia and examining rooms for outpatient visits.
The hospital is capable of obtaining sophisticated pathology and genetic processing of specimens obtained during a needle biopsy.
