Has anyone had a CT guided lung needle biopsy is it fairly safe?

Posted by skittycorn76 @skittycorn76, Mar 7, 2023

I have multiple moderate to large groundglass and tree in bud nodules in my lungs since 2019 which have not been diagnosed. it shows growing each time CT was done. 2019 Bronchoscopy was negative for infection and malignancy. Aug 2022 bronchoscopy with biopsy was negative also for malignancy and infection. I have no respiratory symptoms at all. I still have no diagnosis. My pulmo wants to do a CT guided lung needle biopsy scheduled on March 23,2023. I am somehow more scared of the idea of a needle going into my lungs than the bronchoscopy with biopsy. Has anyone had a CT needle biopsy and was it ok?

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Yes. I had a needle biopsy without problems (on 3/3). The only after care is that I am not able to lift more then 5 lbs for 10 days. The easiest access was through my back and there is some muscle discomfort but nothing serious or disturbing..the anticipation was the hardest part.

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@trfb

Yes. I had a needle biopsy without problems (on 3/3). The only after care is that I am not able to lift more then 5 lbs for 10 days. The easiest access was through my back and there is some muscle discomfort but nothing serious or disturbing..the anticipation was the hardest part.

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Thanks so much. I sm worrying so much over this. I wasn’t so worried with my bronchoscopies somehow the thought of a needle going through my lungs and reading on google the risks of air leak and hematomas are keeping me up at night.

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I had a CT guided needle biopsy in Oct 2021. I had no complications or pain. They also x-rayed me after the procedure to make sure there wasn’t any air pockets and I had to wait until the surgeon saw the x-ray and dismissed me for discharge. It wasn’t nearly as scary or painful as I thought it might be.

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@kwi

I had a CT guided needle biopsy in Oct 2021. I had no complications or pain. They also x-rayed me after the procedure to make sure there wasn’t any air pockets and I had to wait until the surgeon saw the x-ray and dismissed me for discharge. It wasn’t nearly as scary or painful as I thought it might be.

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Thanks so much!

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My CT biopsy was not painful. I did cough up a little blood afterwards. They wanted me to stay in town that night in case I had any issues, but I was fine. I hope your procedure goes well.

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@stanleykent

My CT biopsy was not painful. I did cough up a little blood afterwards. They wanted me to stay in town that night in case I had any issues, but I was fine. I hope your procedure goes well.

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Thank you! This helps ; )

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@kwi

I had a CT guided needle biopsy in Oct 2021. I had no complications or pain. They also x-rayed me after the procedure to make sure there wasn’t any air pockets and I had to wait until the surgeon saw the x-ray and dismissed me for discharge. It wasn’t nearly as scary or painful as I thought it might be.

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I think it all depends on the condition of your lungs to start with. ( irene5)

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They just want to set me up for the same thing. I just had the bronchoscopies done Monday as I had they assume cancer right next to the Aorta in the lung one place and something on the lymph node as well. He thought it might be a melanoma on the lymph node but they don’t think so. So after doing all that and I still feel awful, now they want to do the scan/needle one. Did you feel reasonably fine after the bronchoscopy? I’ve had headaches every day, nausea and weak and shaky.

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@soupycampbell

They just want to set me up for the same thing. I just had the bronchoscopies done Monday as I had they assume cancer right next to the Aorta in the lung one place and something on the lymph node as well. He thought it might be a melanoma on the lymph node but they don’t think so. So after doing all that and I still feel awful, now they want to do the scan/needle one. Did you feel reasonably fine after the bronchoscopy? I’ve had headaches every day, nausea and weak and shaky.

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I was surprisingly okay. Before the procedure I made sure to let the anesthesiologist know to give me something for nausea because I have a weak stomach. I also had some coughing few days but it resolved. I made sure to drink a lot of water hoping to flush out the anesthesia. I also did deep breathing with an incentive spirometer. I’m not sure if maybe that helped. I don’t understand why they had to do a needle biopsy on me when my bronchoscopy with biopsy results were good. I would have thought that the bronchoscopy with biopsy was more extensive and more accurate than the lung needle biopsy. How did your doctor explain it to you when they wanted to do a needle biopsy? When is yours scheduled?

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I have a CT guided biopsy to diagnose and grade a 2.5 cm nodule in my left lung. They used conscious sedation and I was comfortable but also able to see the images. It was not unpleasant.

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