Lymph node biopsy

Lymph node biopsy Treatment & Diagnostics in C Scheme, Jaipur

Lymph node biopsy

Lymph nodes are immune system glands. They are oval-organs located in different parts of your body and can get enlarged because of bacterial and viral infections. Sudden enlargement or swelling of the lymph nodes can be an indication of cancer.

Lymph node biopsy is done by taking out a small piece of one of your lymph nodes which are then examined under a microscope. This procedure will help to diagnose cancer and other infections.

What is the procedure for Lymph node biopsy?

Lymph node biopsies can be done in a hospital or in your doctor’s clinic. During the procedure of lymph node biopsy, the specialist at Apollo Spectra, Jaipur will remove the swollen lymph node or take a sample tissue from the enlarged lymph node. The doctor will send the swollen tissue to the pathologist, who will examine it under a microscope.

The pathologist will look for signs of cancer or other infections. Three different ways of performing lymph node biopsy include:

Needle Biopsy

During this procedure, your doctor will remove a sample of cells from the swollen lymph node. This takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Your doctor will ask you to lie on the examination table.

The biopsy site will be cleaned and medicine will be applied on it. Your doctor will insert a fine needle into your affected lymph node and will remove a sample of cells. The needle will be removed and your doctor will put a bandage on the site.

Open Biopsy

During this procedure, your doctor will remove certain portions of the lymph node or the entire lymph node. Your doctor will use anesthesia to numb the biopsy site. This procedure will take 30 to 45 minutes. They will cut out a small piece of one of your lymph nodes or remove the lymph node.

Your doctor will stitch the biopsy site and apply a bandage on it. You can feel mild pain after an open biopsy. Your doctor will prescribe pain killers after the biopsy. It will take 10 to 14 days for the incision to heal.

Sentinel Biopsy

This Biopsy will be performed by your doctor in case you have cancer. This is done to see if your cancer has the potential to spread to the different parts of the body.

During this procedure, your doctor will inject a blue dye into your lymph node, near the cancer site. The dye will travel to the sentinel nodes. Your doctor will then remove this lymph node and send it to the lab to look for cancer cells.

What are the benefits of lymph node biopsy?

Benefits of lymph node biopsy include:

• It will detect signs of cancer
• It will remove the affected or swollen lymph nodes
• It leaves the other non-involved functional lymph nodes intact
• It will reduce the chance of lymphedema which is common in people who have had breast cancer surgery.
• It will detect signs of infections like tuberculosis, HIV, rheumatoid arthritis, cat scratch fever, skin infection or an infected tooth

What are the side effects of lymph node biopsy?

Side effects of lymph node biopsy include:

• Bleeding from the biopsy site
• Infection around the biopsy site
• Tenderness around the biopsy site
• Numbness due to nerve damage
• Fever
• Pain and swelling

How to prepare for a lymph node biopsy?

Before going to the doctor for a lymph node biopsy, you should inform your doctor about the medications you are taking. This includes all the prescription and non-prescription medicines.

If you are pregnant or suffering from allergies, bleeding disorders, you should tell your doctor beforehand. Avoid taking non-prescription or prescription blood thinners five days before the biopsy. You should not eat or drink for many hours before the procedure.

Request an appointment at Apollo Spectra Hospitals, Jaipur

Call 1860 500 2244 to book an appointment.