What is an Ultrasound Biopsy

An Ultrasound Biopsy is a minimally invasive method that allows us to collect small pieces of tissue from organs within the body. It eliminates the need for open surgery or a general anaesthetic. These tissue samples are sent to a laboratory to determine what might be wrong with a particular organ. 

 

Understanding your procedure

Before your procedure:

You may need a blood test in the days prior to assess your kidney function and how your blood clots. 

 

On the day of your procedure:

  • You may be asked to fast prior to your procedure. 
  • You may be asked to either take or avoid certain medications.  
  • Please let us know if you: 
    - Are pregnant. 
    - Have any allergies. 
    - Suffer from any ongoing illnesses including diabetes. 
    - Are taking any medication including blood thinners such as Warfarin. 
  • When you arrive, please check in with reception. We’ll make sure your details are correct and ask you to complete any appropriate forms. You will be taken to the procedure room and our radiologist will explain the procedure and ask for your consent.

 

During your procedure:

  • We may use an IV line to supply fluid and medication during the procedure. 
  • We also use anaesthesia to maintain your comfort – depending on the procedure this may be a local anaesthetic, where the area is numbed and you remain fully awake; or a partial or full anaesthetic which will affect your level of consciousness and remove any potential pain.
  • You will be asked to lie on a bed while we do a preliminary scan of your internal organs. These ultrasound images are used to guide your radiologist on where to insert the needle. 
  • We make a mark on your skin at the biopsy site and inject the site with numbing medication. 
  • The needle is then passed into the organ, where samples of tissue are obtained.

 

After your procedure:

  • When your Ultrasound biopsy is complete, we will remove the needle and apply pressure to the site to stop bleeding. 
  • Depending on the procedure / organ biopsied, you may be transferred to a recovery ward, and monitored for up to four hours or until the anaesthetic wears off. For some biopsies you will not be required to wait at all. 
  • We may take an x-ray to make sure everything looks good.
  • You should be able to return home on the same day as your biopsy. 
  • Be aware that you may experience pain from the biopsy site. This can usually be resolved with over-the-counter pain medication.

Frequently asked questions

  • Ultrasound biopsies allow quick easy diagnosis without open surgery.
  • This is the only method which gives a near guarantee of obtaining the right tissue to give a clear answer about what might be wrong with a particular organ.
  • Ultrasound image guidance allows our radiologists to accurately obtain tissue from small abnormalities within big organs such as the liver.
  • There are minimal side effects and risks with Ultrasound Biopsies.

This specialised procedure is performed by a specialist radiologist (doctor) who has undergone many years of training and experience.

There are some possible complications from an Ultrasound Biopsy. These include:

  • Fever.
  • Bleeding.
  • Pain or swelling at the biopsy site.
  • Infection.
  • Injury to surrounding tissues.
  • Risks of sedation using anaesthesia.

Yes, you're welcome to bring up to two support people with you to your appointment. If you require more than two, please contact us so we can work with you to find a solution that meets your needs. 

If your support person needs to enter the examination room with you, they may need to wear a protective apron. 

Please note: for some examinations, a support person may not be able to enter the scan room for safety, privacy or clinical reasons. Our team will talk you through this if it applies to your appointment.

Ultrasound appointments can take some time, and scan rooms are often small and contain specialised equipment. If you need to bring children, please make sure another responsible adult comes with you to supervise them throughout your appointment. Our team will need to focus on your care and cannot supervise children.  

If arranging childcare is difficult, please contact us before your appointment. We will do our best to find an option that works for you, so childcare does not prevent you from receiving care.

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