Prior to Procedure

The biopsy team may meet with you to talk about:

• Anesthesia options
• Any allergies you may have
• Current medicines, herbs, and supplements that you take and whether you need to stop taking them before the biopsy
• Fasting before the biopsy, such as avoiding food or drink after midnight the night before
• Whether you need a ride to and from the biopsy

Anesthesia

The doctor may give:

• General anesthesia—you will be asleep
• Local anesthesia—the area will be numbed

Description of the Procedure

There are many ways to do a biopsy, such as:

• Needle biopsy —a thin needle is used to remove cells
• Aspiration biopsy —a hollow needle uses suction to remove cells
• Core needle biopsy —tissue is removed using a hollow core needle that has a special cutting edge
• Vacuum-assisted biopsy —many samples of tissue are taken using a special rotating probe
• Endoscopic biopsy —a long, thin tube is used to pass other tools through and remove tissue
• Incisional biopsy —a part of a growth is cut out
• Excisional biopsy —a growth is fully removed, such as a breast lump
• Punch biopsy —a sample with many layers of skin is removed with a special tool
• Skin biopsy —a small piece of skin is cut off with a scalpel
• Shave biopsy —top layers of skin are shaved off with a special blade
• Bone marrow biopsy —a long needle passes into bone to collect marrow cells

Bone Marrow Biopsy

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How Long Will It Take?

A simple biopsy will only take a few minutes. It will take longer during a surgery.

Will It Hurt?

Pain and swelling are common in the first few days. Medicine and home care can help.

Average Hospital Stay

You will be able to go home after a simple biopsy. If you had surgery, you may need to stay for 1 to 2 days.

Post-procedure Care