Biopsy of Lymph node

Hi, I had a core needle biopsy in September 2023. Apart from initial very bad nervousness, I was fine. You are still awake, but they give you local anaesthetic injections around the site to be biopsied, and once they kick in I literally didn't feel a thing.

It is a day case procedure in hospital and begins with getting wheeled in your hospital bed to the CT scanning room, then everything is explained thoroughly what is going to happen by the Consultant Radiologist doing the biopsy.  My blood pressure was through the roof with nerves, but once the procedure began it settled down to normal levels.

The procedure begins with a CT scan to show exactly where the biopsy needle needs to go, then the local anaesthetic injections are given, I had three in all, two either side of the area and one directly on the spot. A minute or two later the radiologist tests the area to see if the local anaesthetic has kicked in.  When it has, a tube like instrument with a needle on one end is inserted into the chest cavity and into the lung....this sounds horrendous, but the lungs have no pain receptors, so nothing is felt, the local anaesthetic is for the chest wall, I can honestly say I did not feel a thing, it just felt like it would if you pressed a finger onto the chest.

Once the instrument is in, you are then put back into the CT scanner to check that the instrument has gone in where it needs to go.  I had two large screens next to me so I could see everything going on. To be honest, by that time I was happily chatting to the lovely nurse who was there as support.  The radiologist then inserts a gun like instrument through the tube and takes a small sample of the cancer cells....it makes a clicking sound, very like when you staple paper. The gun like instrument is then withdrawn and the specimen is placed in a sealed container for testing.  The radiologist then takes another specimen using the same method.  Both specimens are then sent for histology and to determine what type of cancer it is.

I was then put back in the CT scanner to check the lung was ok.  I had a small air leak, but that is quite normal and nothing to worry about.  I was then wheeled back to the ward and had half hourly obs.  An X-ray is then performed about two to three hours later to check on the lung, and if all is well, which I was, you are discharged back home.

The biopsied site is a bit uncomfortable when the local anaesthetic wears off, but I found a couple of Ibuprofen settled it.  

If your mum had a biopsy with a bronchoscopy I can fully understand her finding it "horrendous", I would too.

I am sorry for the long reply, but I just wanted to let you know the details of a core needle biopsy and to reassure your mum. 

Very best wishes to your mum.

Ann

Hi Ann, please don’t apologise for long reply - I am very grateful for such a detailed explanation. It’s always better knowing what you are going into and my mum would much rather know. I shall pass this on to her and am getting her to join here herself. Thank you so much - really appreciate you taking the time to explain,

best wishes - Cathie