CT lung biopsy

Duration of examination

Approximately 30 minutes plus post-procedure care.

Please bring with you:

• Your request form
• Medicare and any
• Healthcare cards

Payment on the day of the examination is requested.

What is a CT lung biopsy?

When an abnormality is found within the lung, a needle biopsy may be necessary. The biopsy involves removing a small piece of tissue for examination by a pathologist.

Patient preparation

Please do not eat or drink anything for four hours prior to the appointment.

Please inform us if you take blood-thinning medication (Aspirin, Warfarin, Dabigatran, Clopidogrel, etc). You may need to have a blood-clotting test before the procedure and have your medication adjusted by your doctor.

Hospital admission may be necessary to be able to safely perform the biopsy. The hospital admission will be arranged by your referrer. The admitting hospital will liaise directly with you regarding specific admission information.

What will happen during the examination?

You will be asked to change into a gown and lie on the CT examination table. CT imaging is used to accurately locate the area of interest.

A safe biopsy path is planned and the entry site marked. You may be asked to hold your breath for a few seconds during this imaging. It is important you try to keep as still as possible during the procedure. Your skin will be cleansed to create sterile conditions. A local anaesthetic is injected.

A radiologist will then position a needle using CT guidance within the area of interest and a small tissue sample will be taken. For some biopsies, you may hear the noise of the biopsy equipment. This is normal and should not be of concern. Several specimens may be required. The needle will then be removed.

Once any bleeding has stopped at the site of needle entry, a dressing will be applied. Bleeding should be minimal.

Are there any risks?

You will receive a small dose of x‑ray radiation. However, please advise the radiographer if you are, or think you may be pregnant.

The most common risk is a leak of air into the tissue surrounding the lung (pneumothorax). This generally is asymptomatic (without symptoms) and resolves without treatment. A chest x‑rays the next day may be required to monitor this.

Sometimes the leak is large (5 in 100 people) and the lung may collapse causing chest discomfort and shortness of breath. If this occurs a tube may need to be inserted to drain the air. You will require hospitalisation for a few days until these resolves. People with emphysema are at greater risk.

Some bleeding or coughing of blood may occur. It is rare that this is excessive or requires admission to hospital for observation and treatment. Other risks such as infection or injury to organs are very low.

If you have any concerns or symptoms following your biopsy, please consult your doctor or present to an emergency department.

After the examination

You will need to stay in our rooms for between two and four hours after the biopsy. Staff will take regular observations checking for possible complications. Chest x‑ray(s) may also be performed as part of the monitoring process. You will need someone to drive you home and stay with you over night. Please take this into account when booking your appointment.

If a hospital admission has been arranged, you will recover in the hospital ward and be discharged by nursing staff when appropriate. This may require an overnight stay in hospital.

You may experience some soreness at the biopsy site for which you may take paracetamol.

Your bandage may be removed one day following the procedure and you may bathe or shower as normal. You should not exert yourself physically or travel by airplane the night of, and for one full day following, your biopsy. On the second day, if you feel up to it, you may return to your normal activities.

The tissue sample will require detailed examination under microscope by a pathologist. We will not be able to give you any results directly after the procedure. The final results will be sent to your doctor by the pathologist. This may take up to a week. It is important you visit your doctor to discuss the results.

It is important you understand why and how we will be assisting you. If you have any questions, please call one of our clinics or speak to our staff on the day of your visit.