Needle biopsy

Needle biopsy is a general term that's often used to describe inserting a special needle through the skin to collect cells from a suspicious area. Doctors call this a percutaneous tissue biopsy.

A needle biopsy is often used on suspicious areas that your health care provider can feel through your skin, such as breast lumps and enlarged lymph nodes. When combined with an imaging procedure, needle biopsy can be used to collect cells from an area that can't be felt through the skin.

Needle biopsy procedures include:

• Fine-needle aspiration. During fine-needle aspiration, a long, thin needle is inserted into the suspicious area. A syringe is used to draw out fluid and cells for analysis.
• Core needle biopsy. A larger needle with a cutting tip is used during core needle biopsy to draw a column of tissue out of a suspicious area.
• Vacuum-assisted biopsy. During vacuum-assisted biopsy, a suction device increases the amount of fluid and cells that is extracted through the needle. This can reduce the number of times the needle must be inserted to collect an adequate sample.

• Image-guided biopsy. Image-guided biopsy combines an imaging procedure — such as a CT scan, MRI or ultrasound — with a needle biopsy.

  Image-guided biopsy allows your health care provider to access suspicious areas that can't be felt through the skin, such as on the liver, lung or prostate. Using real-time images, your health care provider can make sure the needle reaches the correct spot.

You'll receive a local anesthetic to numb the area being biopsied to minimize the pain.