Performing soft tissue biopsy under ultrasound guidance greatly reduces the chances of complication and greatly increases the diagnostic accuracy. These procedures are safe, and there is minimal risk of bleeding. The chances of injuring important structures in the surrounding tissues is also minimal due to the active ultrasound guidance.
What is biopsy?
A biopsy is a method of obtaining a very small sample of the affected tissue using a small needle. This procedure is often performed under imaging guidance to ensure accurate tissue targeting and sample collection. Generally, a small biopsy needle is advanced under direct ultrasound guidance into the region of interest. Several biopsy samples are taken by the radiologist under strict aseptic precaution. The samples are sent to the laboratory for the necessary testing.
Is it painful?
Generally, biopsies are performed under local anaesthetic injection. The local anaesthetic numbs the skin and the tissue that is to be biopsied. Therefore, the procedure itself is often near completely painless. Patient comfort during biopsy procedure is one of our primary concerns and we go the extra mile to ensure that the patient is as comfortable as possible during a biopsy.
Will there be bleeding?
Due to the small size of the needle, most patients do not experience any significant bleeding or discomfort. In most cases, an ice pack is placed over the region for comfort measures for a period of up to 30 minutes. The patient is usually able to go home after this time.
How long will it take?
Generally, the actual biopsy procedure takes no more than 15 minutes. However, the preparation and the post procedural observation requires additional time. Generally, your procedure will be completed within the hour from the time of your arrival at our imaging centre. Please talk to our staff to obtain more accurate time estimates for each individual procedure.
When can I expect the results?
The results are usually available within 3-5 days’ time. The results are directly delivered by the pathology lab to the patient’s referring doctor. Please make an appointment to see your doctor so that they can discuss the biopsy findings and the next steps in the management of your condition with you.