Needle Biopsy

A needle biopsy is a closed biopsy procedure. It is generally recommended for patients that present with fluid build-up in the chest, abdomen or heart area which is a common symptom associated with mesothelioma. Because it is a closed procedure it is considered to be minimally invasive and of lower risk than mesothelioma biopsies which are considered open procedures. Needle biopsies only require local anesthesia and no incisions are made in the chest or abdomen.

A pleural biopsy is the most common needle biopsy procedure used to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. This is because both fluid and tissue samples can be obtained in a single procedure. During this procedure, a doctor uses a long needle to obtain biopsy samples from the target area(s). The fluid and tissue samples are then sent to the lab for analysis. A pleural biopsy is usually performed by a pulmonologist, but other needle biopsies can be performed by a radiologist, surgeon or lung doctor (pulmonologist).

Pleural Biopsy

When there is excessive fluid buildup around the lungs, a pleural biopsy may be ordered to obtain a fluid and tissue sample from the chest area and the pleural membrane to test for the presence of mesothelioma cancer.

Thoracentesis

A thoracentesis is performed to obtain a fluid sample from the pleural space in patients that are presenting with excessive fluid buildup in the chest cavity. Those with pleural mesothelioma will often present with this type of symptom and a thoracentesis can both drain excess fluid to make the patient more comfortable and provide a fluid sample to help doctors make a diagnosis.

Paracentesis

Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma often exhibit the symptom of excess fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity. An abdominal paracentesis may be performed to drain excess fluid from the abdomen to help the patient feel better and/or to assist doctors with making a diagnosis after sending a fluid sample to the laboratory.

Sources

JE Heffner, Medical University of South Carolina,. "Pleural Fluid Analysis, Thoracentesis, Biopsy, and Chest Tube” , 2006

Harvey I. Pass, John A. Dingell, Susan Vento: 100 Questions & Answers About Mesothelioma. (Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc., 2005)

Mayo Clinic
www.mayoclinic.com