Lung Biopsy

What Is a Lung Biopsy?

A lung biopsy is a procedure to remove a small piece of lung tissue, so it can be examined under a microscope for signs of damage or disease. Most commonly, the biopsy is directed at a mass in your lung. Your doctor will insert a needle through your skin and into your lung. An imaging technique called computed tomography (CT) is used to help guide the interventional radiologist’s instruments to the appropriate site.

Before the Lung Biopsy

• No food or liquids for 6 hours prior to the procedure. However, you may take all regular medications as scheduled with small sips of water.
• It is required that you arrange for a relative or friend to drive you home after the procedure.
• Report any medications you are taking to the radiology nurse, including “blood thinners”, such as aspirin, Plavix, Lovenox, Coumadin, Pradaxa, Xarelto, or Eliquis. Your physician may advise you to stop taking a “blood thinner” for a specific period of time before your procedure.
• Prior to your procedure, your blood will be tested to determine if your blood clots normally.
• Report any allergies to the radiology nurse, especially those to iodine contrast (x-ray dye) or local anesthetic medications.
• Women should always inform the x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant. Many imaging tests are not performed during pregnancy so as not to expose the fetus to radiation.

During the Biopsy

• A nurse will insert an intravenous (IV) line into a vein in your hand or arm so that medication can be given intravenously to help you relax.
• You will be positioned on the CT table and images will be taken to find the best location for biopsy.
• The skin is cleaned with an antiseptic solution and the selected site is covered with a large sterile sheet.
• You will feel a slight pin prick when the local anesthetic (numbing medicine) is injected in the area.
• Using CT as a guide, the doctor inserts the needle through the skin and advances it into the lung mass and removes samples of tissue. While this is done, you will be told to hold your breath. Several specimens may be needed for complete analysis.
• After the sampling, the needle is removed and a bandage is placed over the procedure site.
• You will be monitored for a few hours after your biopsy.

Potential Risks and Complications

• Bleeding at the procedure site
• Infection at the procedure site
• Coughing up blood
• An air leak from the punctured lung into the chest cavity that causes the lung to collapse (pneumothorax). If a collapsed lung should occur and is large enough to be considered harmful, a small tube may be inserted into the chest cavity to drain away the air. This tube is generally removed after a few days.