Needle Biopsy

Also known as: biopsy, fine-needle aspiration, core needle biopsy.

What is needle biopsy?

A biopsy is a medical procedure used to collect a sample of tissue from the body, often for better diagnosis of a disease. A needle biopsy simply means that the tissue sample is connected by a large needle. This is often used for areas of the body (like bones or tumors) that are difficult to access in other ways.


What happens during the procedure?

The child is usually placed under sedation or anesthesia for the procedure.

Often the area for the biopsy is prepared with a cleaning and a small incision for the needle. Then the needle is inserted through the skin to the area where the tissue sample is present. The sample is collected in the needle, and the needle is withdrawn. The sample is taken to a laboratory for testing.


Is any special preparation needed?

You may need to avoid blood-thinning medications prior to a needle biopsy. Nothing to eat or drink before the procedure in case sedation or anesthesia is needed.


What are the risk factors?

Pain, swelling, bleeding, drainage or fever are potential risks of a needle biopsy.


Reviewed by: Ziad A Khatib, MD

This page was last updated on: March 26, 2019 12:22 PM