How accurate a biopsy lung test can be?

Hi @maryluise2 -- I had a lung biopsy to diagnose my rare neuroendocrine lung cancer. They were in there for about 45 minutes and took 8 different needle samples to be sure they hit the mark and got different parts of the 2.5 cm tumor. They used a CT scan during the procedure. They hit the mark. It was cancer. The question with a benign tissue sample biopsy (vs. biopsying the removed tumor) is always wondering if they hit the mark or missed the cancerous tissue. So hard to know. Your father-in-law's PET results certainly make you wonder. Did their theory on why a benign tumor would cause light and inflammation on the PET scan sound credible? For myself, I'd probably want a another biopsy and a second opinion both at a facility like Mayo, teaching hospital like UCLA, cancer center, etc. especially since the doctors are not in agreement. I certainly wouldn't let the same doctor do the second biopsy.

I remember when I had a biopsy 10 years ago to diagnose my breast cancer. The tumor was small and deep so challenging. The radiologist that did the ultrasound was going on a long vacation and told me I could schedule with another radiologist if I didn't want to wait for the needle biopsy. I didn't really want to wait, but the nurse pulled me aside and said, "The tumor is small. It's going to be hard to get to. This doctor doesn't miss. You want to wait for HER!" So I did and she hit the mark. Some doctors are better than others, maybe more meticulous, maybe more experienced, maybe just most skilled. I hope this helps. Best of luck to your family with your decision and procedures. Please keep us posted.

Mary Luise, what do you mean by “biopsy test”? How was this done? Where is your dad being treated? If the doctor is recommending surgery, why are you concerned about doing that? Sorry for the questions, but it’s hard to give advice. My PET scan showed no cancer beyond the original lung node, yet I had a surgical biopsy of the lymph node in the center of my chest. It was negative and I had surgery a week later. Sounds like you already have a second opinion. Where did you get it? Many cancers are treatable now. Stay hopeful.

Thank youuu so muchh, so maybe we will do another lung biopsy.

franciekid, we are concerned

franceikid, we are concerned about the surgery because we dont want to put him at risk. i mean by a biopsy test i mean a lung biopsy it is a needle that get a sample of the area infected so we can see weather the tumor is benign or malignant

You probably know this, but just to be clear, things can light up on a PET scan and not be cancer. A PET scan specifically shows things that have a high metabolism. Cancer has a high metabolism so it shows up but other things that have a high metabolism also show up.
My PET scan showed my lung cancer and a couple lymph nodes that had cancer but it also showed a tumor in my right sinus of all places. This was removed surgically and the pathology showed without a doubt that it was not cancer. It just happened to have a high metabolism.

I had a biopsy under genersl anesthesia. Actually quite easy. How old is your dad (I’m 78). Is he in good health? What hospital are you going to? I’ve found the doctors here at Northwestern in Chicago to be very helpful. They will certainly tell you if they think surgery would be risky fir your dad. Best of luck to you. It’s all very scary, zi know, but cancer treatments now are so much better than in the past.

Franciekid, yes my father is in a good health and he is 55. we are not in America, but yes we can travel anywhere may you tell me doctors that you can recommend to me?

Nonobaddog, thank you so muchhh i hope you are feeling good now. So you think that we can do another lung biopsy right?

Hi maryluise2,
First you should not do anything based on my advice since I am not a doctor. I am just a patient and yes, thank you for asking, I am feeling better.
I guess it depends on how much you trust the first biopsy. I think you need to get results from a doctor you trust and then it becomes clearer on what you should do.
For instance if you trust the biopsy that says no cancer then I would question any need for surgery.
Again - don't do anything medical based on what anybody tells you in a forum such as this. Your doctors have a ton more information than anybody here and they have the training.