Lung needle biopsy

Alternative names:

biopsy - lung needle

What the risks are:

The risks include infection, bleeding, and pneumothorax (a collapsed lung). A needle biopsy should not be performed if other tests indicate the presence of bullae (enlarged alveoli associated with emphysema), cysts, blood coagulation disorder of any type, hypoxia (insufficient blood oxygenation), pulmonary hypertension, or cor pulmonale (enlargement of the right ventricle secondary to pulmonary hypertension that results from primary lung diseases - a type of heart failure).

Special considerations:

Signs of pneumothorax include shortness of breath, rapid heart rate (pulse), blueness of the skin (late sign). If any of these occur, report them to the health care provider immediately.