MEDLINEplus Health Information: Return to home page   A service of the National Library of Medicine: Go to NLM home page
Search     Advanced Search    Site Map    About MEDLINEplus    Home
Health Topics: conditions, diseases and wellness Drug Information: generic and brand name drugs Dictionaries: spellings and definitions of medical terms Directories: doctors, dentists and hospitals Other Resources: organizations, libraries, publications, MEDLINE

Medical Encyclopedia

Disease     Injury     Nutrition     Poison     Special     Surgery     Symptoms     Tests


Lung biopsy
 
Overview   Risks   Results   

Lung needle biopsy

Alternative names:

biopsy - lung needle

How the test is performed:

A chest X-ray is often used to identify the area to be biopsied. You are asked to sit with your arms resting forward on a table. You should maintain this position and refrain from coughing during the biopsy. The skin is scrubbed and a local anesthetic is injected. A small (about 1/8-inch) incision may be made in the skin, and the biopsy needle is inserted into the abnormal tissue, tumor, or lung tissue. A small specimen is removed with the needle and sent to the laboratory. Pressure is placed over the site. Once bleeding has stopped, a bandage is applied. A chest X-ray is obtained immediately after the biopsy. The procedure usually takes 30 to 60 minutes; laboratory analysis usually takes a few days.

How to prepare for the test:

Before a needle biopsy of the lung, a chest X-ray, CT scan of the chest, or bronchoscopy has been performed. Sometimes a mild sedative will precede the biopsy. You must sign a consent form. It is important to remain as still as possible for the biopsy and to refrain from coughing.

Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:

How the test will feel:

A lung needle biopsy is preceded by a local injection of anesthetic, which will sting for a moment. You will feel pressure and a brief, sharp pain when the needle touches the lung.

Why the test is performed:

A needle lung biopsy is performed when there is an abnormal condition that is near the surface of the lung, in the lung parenchyma (the tissues surrounding the lungs), or on the chest wall. The test can be performed to obtain a sample for culture when infection of the lung is suspected and sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage cultures have not identified the cause of the infection.


Adam

The information provided herein should not be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Copyright 2000 adam.com, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Health Topics | Drug Information | Dictionaries | Directories | Other Resources