How It Is Done
A lymph node biopsy may be done in a surgery clinic or the hospital.
You may need to take off all or some of your clothes. If needed, you will be given a cloth or paper covering to use during the biopsy.
Fine needle biopsy
In a fine needle lymph node biopsy, your doctor numbs the area where the needle will be inserted. When the area is numb, the needle is put through the skin and into the lymph node to remove a sample of cells. You must lie still while the biopsy is done.
The needle is then removed. Pressure is put on the needle site to stop any bleeding. A bandage is put on.
The biopsy sample is sent to a lab to be looked at under a microscope.
Core needle biopsy
In a core needle lymph node biopsy, your doctor numbs the area where the needle will be inserted. When the area is numb, a small cut is made in the skin. A needle with a special tip is put through the skin and into the lymph node to remove a sample of tissue. You must lie still while the biopsy is done.
The needle is then removed. Pressure is put on the needle site to stop any bleeding. A bandage is put on.
Open biopsy and lymph node dissection
An open biopsy of a lymph node is done by a surgeon. For a lymph node near the surface of the skin, the biopsy site is numbed with local anesthetic. For a lymph node deeper in the body or if more than one lymph node will be taken (lymph node dissection), you may have general anesthesia. That means you will not be awake during the biopsy.
An intravenous line (I.V.) will be put in your arm, and a sedative medicine will be given before the biopsy.
A small cut will be made so the whole lymph node or a slice of it can be taken out.
Stitches are used to close the skin, and a bandage is put on. You will be taken to a recovery room until you are fully awake. After you wake up, the area may be numb from a local anesthetic that was put into the biopsy site. You will also feel sleepy for several hours.
How long the test takes
- A fine needle biopsy takes about 5 to 15 minutes.
- A core needle biopsy takes about 20 minutes.
- An open biopsy usually takes from 30 to 60 minutes. If you've had a lymph node dissection to remove cancer, the surgery may take longer.