Test Overview

A lymph node biopsy removes lymph node tissue to be looked at under a microscope for signs of infection or a disease, such as cancer. Other tests may also be used to check the lymph tissue sample, including a culture, genetic tests, or tests to study the body's immune system (immunological tests).

Lymph nodes are part of the immune system. They are found in the neck, behind the ears, in the armpits, and in the chest, belly, and groin.

Lymph nodes in healthy people are usually hard to feel. But lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin can get bigger and become tender. Swollen lymph nodes usually mean an infection. But the swelling can also be caused by a cut, a scratch, an insect bite, a tattoo, a drug reaction, or cancer.

There are several ways to do a lymph node biopsy. The lymph node sample will be looked at under a microscope for problems.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

Your doctor inserts a thin needle into a lymph node and removes a sample of cells.

Core needle biopsy.

Your doctor inserts a needle with a special tip and removes a sample of tissue about the size of a grain of rice.

Open (surgical) biopsy.

Your doctor will make a small cut in the skin and remove a lymph node. If more than one lymph node is taken, the biopsy is called a lymph node dissection. Open biopsy and lymph node dissection let your doctor take a bigger sample than a needle biopsy.

Why It Is Done

Lymph node biopsy is done to:

• Check the cause of enlarged lymph nodes that do not return to normal size on their own.
• Check the cause of symptoms, such as an ongoing fever, night sweats, or weight loss.
• Check to see if a known cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. This is called staging and is done to plan cancer treatment.
• Remove cancer.

How To Prepare

If the biopsy will be done under general anesthesia, follow the instructions exactly about when to stop eating and drinking, or your surgery may be canceled. If your doctor has instructed you to take your medicines on the day of surgery, do so using only a sip of water.

Be sure you have someone to take you home. Anesthesia and pain medicine will make it unsafe for you to drive or get home on your own.

Tell your doctor ALL the medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies you take. Some may increase the risk of problems during your test. Your doctor will tell you if you should stop taking any of them before the test and how soon to do it.

If you take a medicine that prevents blood clots, your doctor may tell you to stop taking it before your test. Or your doctor may tell you to keep taking it. (These medicines include aspirin and other blood thinners.) Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do.

If a lymph node biopsy will be done under local anesthesia, you don't need to do anything else to prepare for the biopsy.

Other tests, such as blood tests or X-rays, may be done before the lymph node biopsy.

How It Is Done

You may need to take off all or some of your clothes. If needed, you will be given a cloth or paper covering to use during the biopsy.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy

A fine-needle lymph biopsy may be done in a surgery clinic or the hospital.

Your doctor numbs the area where the needle will be inserted. When the area is numb, the needle is put through the skin and into the lymph node. You must lie still while the biopsy is done.

The needle is then removed. Pressure is put on the needle site to stop any bleeding. A bandage is put on.

The biopsy sample is sent to a lab to be looked at under a microscope.

Core needle biopsy

In a core needle lymph biopsy, your doctor numbs the area where the needle will be inserted. When the area is numb, a small cut is made in the skin. A needle with a special tip is put through the skin and into the lymph node. You must lie still while the biopsy is done.

The needle is then removed. Pressure is put on the needle site to stop any bleeding. A bandage is put on.

Open biopsy and lymph node dissection

An open biopsy of a lymph node is done by a surgeon. For a lymph node near the surface of the skin, the biopsy site is numbed with local anesthetic. For a lymph node deeper in the body or for lymph node dissection, you may have general anesthesia. That means you will not be awake during the biopsy.

An intravenous line (I.V.) will be put in your arm, and a sedative medicine will be given before the biopsy.

A small cut will be made so the whole lymph node or a slice of it can be taken out.

Stitches are used to close the skin, and a bandage is put on. You will be taken to a recovery room until you are fully awake. After you wake up, the area may be numb from a local anesthetic that was put into the biopsy site. You will also feel sleepy for several hours.

How long the test takes

• A fine-needle aspiration biopsy takes about 5 to 15 minutes.
• A core needle biopsy takes about 20 minutes.
• An open biopsy usually takes from 30 to 60 minutes. If you've had a lymph node dissection to remove cancer, the surgery may take longer.

How It Feels

You will feel only a quick sting from the needle if you have a local anesthesia to numb the biopsy area. If you have a core needle biopsy, you may feel some pressure when the biopsy needle is put in.

You may have general anesthesia if your lymph node biopsy is part of a larger surgery. If so, you won't feel your biopsy at all.

Risks

There is a chance of an infection at the biopsy site. An infection can be treated with antibiotics.

Your skin may feel numb near the biopsy site. This is common.

After surgery you may have a buildup of fluid where lymph nodes were removed. This fluid is called seroma. Your body will reabsorb the fluid, but it may take some time. Or your doctor may decide to drain the fluid. If the area becomes painful or shows signs of infection, such as redness, warmth, or tenderness, call your doctor right away.

Having lymph nodes removed may increase your chance of getting lymphedema. This can happen months after you have the surgery. If you notice swelling or if your skin feels tighter than normal, be sure to contact your doctor.

Results

Test results are usually available within a few days. Finding some types of infections may take longer.

The lymph node sample is usually treated with special dyes (stains) that color the cells and make problems more visible.