Lymph Node Biopsy

Biopsy, Lymph Node

Risks

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

Call your doctor immediately if:

• Your pain lasts longer than a week.
• You have redness, a lot of swelling, bleeding, or pus from the biopsy site.
• You have a fever.
• There is fluid buildup in the area where the lymph node was taken out (lymphedema). This occurs most often when removing the lymph nodes that run in a line from under the arm to the collarbone (axillary lymph nodes). This can happen immediately after surgery or even months or years later. Most people who have a lymph node biopsy do not have a problem with lymphedema.
• Numbness in the skin near the biopsy site. This may be caused by nerve damage.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: May 1, 2007
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Brent Shoji, MD - General Surgery
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