Mesothelioma Biopsy

Biopsies are the only definitive way to diagnose mesothelioma. While other tests can detect the potential presence of a tumor, a tissue sample taken by biopsy can be examined under a microscope to determine the mesothelioma cell type and other characteristics.

By nature, biopsies are invasive procedures, though the level of invasiveness differs greatly depending on the type of biopsy a patient undergoes. This page provides information about each of these types of biopsy and how they affect mesothelioma patients during the diagnostic process.

When are biopsies performed?

In most cases, taking a biopsy is the last stage of the mesothelioma diagnosis process. If the patient’s symptoms, imaging tests, and blood tests all point to the potential for mesothelioma, the doctor will typically order a biopsy to be performed to confirm the diagnosis positively.

The biggest reason that biopsies are held until all the other tests are performed is that they are invasive by nature. Many biopsies are surgical procedures in themselves, and therefore come with the same risks that other surgeries carry, including infection or other complications. As a result, biopsies are only performed if the signs all point to mesothelioma (or some other form of cancer).

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Mesothelioma Biopsy Types

There are three primary types of biopsies that mesothelioma patients may undergo: needle biopsies, camera-assisted biopsies, and open surgery biopsies. Which biopsy procedure is recommended depends on the location of the tumor or where mesothelioma symptoms are presenting (such as fluid buildup around the lungs).

Needle Biopsy

Needle biopsies are considered closed (i.e., non-surgical) procedures. The procedure uses either a small- or large-bore needle to extract fluid containing cancer cells from around the area of the tumor.

In most cases, patients are awake during needle biopsies. The doctor may use an ultrasound or CT camera guidance to help guide needle placement.

The benefit of needle biopsies is that the procedure is very fast, it does not severely impact the body, and it requires little or no recovery time. However, needle biopsies are also limited in that they may not pick up enough cancer cells to perform the histological analysis required for a definitive diagnosis. Therefore, in some cases, doctors may follow up with a surgical biopsy if the needle biopsy comes back negative for mesothelioma.

Needle Biopsy Types

In addition to using these procedures to obtain tissue samples as part of a biopsy, they can also be used as palliative treatments to help relieve symptoms caused by mesothelioma.

Risks Associated with Needle Biopsies

Needle biopsies are tolerated well by most patients and rarely involve significant complications. The types of risks that do exist with these procedures include mild pain or discomfort during the insertion of the needle, and minor bleeding if a blood vessel is nicked during needle insertion.

In very rare instances, a biopsy needle may pierce the lung or abdominal organ, depending on the type of biopsy performed. If the hole does not heal properly it could lead to further complications, such as a collapsed lung.

Camera-Assisted Biopsy (Endoscopy)

Camera-assisted biopsies are considered “minimally invasive” procedures. While they technically qualify as surgery, they require only a small incision, into which a tube containing a camera can be inserted and a tissue sample can be removed. Unlike needle biopsies, the patient is often given general anesthesia during camera-assisted biopsies.

The main benefit of a camera-assisted biopsy is that it lets doctors visually inspect the tumor within the body, and then obtain a tissue sample that is large enough for proper analysis. As a surgical procedure, camera-assisted biopsies do contain certain risks; however, camera-assisted biopsies are still less invasive than open surgery biopsies, and recovery is relatively quick overall.

Camera-Assisted Biopsy Types

Upon viewing the tumor through one of the methods described above, the doctor will take a tissue sample for further analysis. In some cases, surgical treatment may administered at the same time as the camera-assisted biopsy, in which case the procedure will require a longer stay in the hospital.

Risks Associated with Camera-Assisted Biopsies

Camera-assisted procedures are becoming more common, and in many cases they can be done on an outpatient basis. They are often less expensive than surgical biopsies, and they are effective at allowing the doctor to obtain tissue samples from various areas in the body.

The risks associated with camera-assisted biopsies are minor. There is always a risk with the administration of anesthesia, which can cause an allergic reaction, headache, or nausea. There is also a risk of infection, bleeding, injury to organs, and in extreme circumstances, organ failure. However, most individuals tolerate the procedure well, and recovery is relatively quick.

Surgical Biopsy

Surgical biopsies are open procedures that are much more invasive than either needle biopsies or camera-assisted biopsies. Due to their invasive nature, doctors tend to take a more conservative approach, prescribing them only when less invasive biopsies yield inconclusive results, or when the area is hard to reach using a needle or endoscope.

The biggest advantage of surgical biopsy is access to the area from which a tissue sample needs to be taken. The tradeoff is that surgical biopsies require a general anesthesia, and they usually need much more recovery time than other types of biopsy.

Surgical Biopsy Types

In some cases, surgeons may decide to conduct an emergency surgery to remove any tumors they find during a surgical biopsy procedure. In such instances, the doctor generally will use the same incision as was created for the biopsy to perform the biopsy.

Risks Associated with Surgical Biopsy

As with all surgery involving general anesthesia, there are risks associated with the anesthesia itself, including allergic reaction, nausea, headache, and vomiting. Other risks for surgical biopsies include infection, excessive bleeding, injury to organs or blood vessels, fluid buildup, and pain. Like any major surgery, the recovery time is significant and depends on the patient’s overall health.

What Happens After the Biopsy?

The primary goal of the biopsy is to obtain enough cancerous cells to perform analysis under a microscope. This analysis is an essential part of the mesothelioma diagnosis process.

Specifically, once a tissue sample is obtained, it will be sent off to a laboratory where a pathologist will conduct histological analysis (for surgical or camera-assisted biopsies) or cytological analysis (for needle biopsies). These analyses use a series of test to identify whether mesothelioma is present, as well as help determine the cell type, prognosis, and stage of the disease.

If a mesothelioma diagnosis is determined, the doctor will share the results with you and begin developing a treatment plan.

Mesothelioma Biopsy Costs

The cost of biopsies differ greatly depending on the type of biopsy performed, with more difficult biopsies) usually costing the least. Considering that some patients may need to have multiple biopsies to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis, the medical expenses can add up very fast.

If biopsy results show that you or a loved one do have mesothelioma, you may be able to access some financial help to pay for your medical bills, as well as other expenses related to treatment, recovery, and lost income. Find out what monetary options are available to you by contacting an expert today.

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