Superficial Mass Needle Biopsy

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• A superficial mass needle biopsy is a procedure to take a sample of cells or tissue from your body. Your caregiver uses a needle to remove cells or tissue from a mass (lump) under your skin. You may or may not be able to feel the lump. The lump may be located on any part of your body, such as your head, chest, or underarms. You also may feel a lump anywhere you have lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are lumps of tissue located throughout your body that help fight infection caused by germs called bacteria. During a fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, your caregiver will take cells out of your lump. During a core needle biopsy, your caregiver will take a sample of tissue from your lump.
  
  
• Your caregiver will send the sample of cells or tissue to a lab for testing. The lump may be a tumor (growth) that is benign or malignant. A benign lump means the lump does not contain cancer. A malignant lump contains cancer. A biopsy may show the type of cancer that is in the lump. The results of your needle biopsy may help your caregiver decide the best treatment for you. If your biopsy shows that you have cancer, you might start early treatment. Early treatment may help stop your cancer from spreading to other parts of your body.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• You may have pain or bruising in the area where you had your biopsy. You may get an infection where the needle entered your body. The needle may damage a nerve in your body, such as your face. You may have very bad bleeding called a hemorrhage. If you have cancer, your biopsy may not show it. The needle may break cancer cells and cause cancer to spread to other tissue or body organs.
  
  
• If you do not have this procedure, your caregiver may not know the cause of your lump. Without the procedure, treatment may be delayed and your condition could get worse. Call your caregiver if you have questions or concerns about your needle biopsy, condition, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Before your procedure:

• Informed consent: A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.
  
  
• Procedure prep: Your caregiver will clean the skin around your lump. Your caregiver will put a shot of anesthesia medicine into the skin near your lump.
  
  
• Local anesthesia: Medicine is used to numb the area of your body where the surgery or procedure will be done. It is usually injected into the skin. It also may be given as a gel or jelly applied to your gums for dental procedures or as a patch. For such areas as the genitals, medicine may be given as a cream on the skin or mucus membranes.

During your procedure:

• During the biopsy, your caregiver holds your lump in one hand and guides the needle with the other hand. If your caregiver is doing an FNA biopsy, he puts the needle into your lump and pulls fluid into a syringe. A syringe is a tube attached to the needle to hold the fluid. Your caregiver moves the needle back and forth inside your lump and removes more than one sample of cells.
  
  
• If you are having a core needle biopsy, your caregiver makes a small incision (cut) next to your lump. He puts the needle into the incision and removes the tissue sample. During your biopsy, your caregiver may use an imaging test, such as an ultrasound. An imaging test may help your caregiver find the best place to remove cells or tissue from your lump. After your biopsy, your caregiver sends the cells or tissue to a lab for testing.

After your procedure:

A small bandage may be placed over the area where the needle was put into your lump. Your caregiver may have you put pressure on this bandage to help decrease swelling. Do not get out of bed until your caregiver says it is okay. When your caregiver sees that you are okay, you may be able to go home.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Superficial Mass Needle Biopsy (Inpatient Care)