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. 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 fluid buildup.
  • Numbness in the skin near the biopsy site. This may be caused by nerve damage.

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Author: Bets Davis, MFA Last Updated: April 29, 2009
Medical Review: Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine
Brent Shoji, MD - General Surgery

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Topic Contents
 Test Overview
 Why It Is Done
 How To Prepare
 How It Is Done
 How It Feels
Arrow PointerRisks
 Results
 What Affects the Test
 What To Think About
 References
 Credits