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Lymph node biopsy (core / excisional)
Category: Biopsies, Lab & Pathology Tests · All biopsies, lab & pathology tests
What it is
A lymph node biopsy samples an enlarged lymph node to find the cause — infection, inflammation or cancer (lymphoma or spread from another cancer). A core biopsy takes needle cores under imaging guidance; an excisional biopsy removes the whole node surgically, giving the most complete architecture for lymphoma diagnosis.
Why it is done
It is done for persistently enlarged nodes without an obvious cause, nodes that are hard, fixed or growing, and to classify lymphoma precisely, which determines treatment.
How to prepare
You will have blood tests and imaging (ultrasound or CT) to choose the best node and route. Blood thinners are reviewed. Excisional biopsy may need general anaesthetic and fasting; core biopsy uses local anaesthetic alone.
What happens during the procedure
Core biopsy: after numbing, a spring-loaded needle takes several cores with clicks, under ultrasound or CT guidance — about 20 minutes. Excisional biopsy: a small operation removing the node through a cut over it, usually a day case of about 30 to 45 minutes.
Afterwards — recovery & results
After a core biopsy you are observed briefly and go home with a small dressing. After excision, wound care and stitch removal follow general surgical advice, with recovery over one to two weeks. Results take about one to two weeks, sometimes longer with specialist lymphoma testing.
Risks & considerations
Risks include bleeding, infection, seroma (fluid collection), numbness near the site, and — depending on the site — injury to nearby nerves or vessels (uncommon). Core sampling can occasionally be non-diagnostic for lymphoma, when excision follows.
Watch: Lymph node biopsy (core / excisional) videos
Real procedure videos from the MedicalVideos.com library. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.
Related guides on MedicalVideos.com
Frequently asked questions
Why remove the whole node for lymphoma?
Lymphoma classification depends on the node's architecture — how cells are arranged — which cores can miss. Excision gives the pathologist the full picture in one procedure.
Could it just be infection?
Yes — many enlarged nodes are reactive or infective, including glandular fever and TB. The biopsy distinguishes these from cancer and often identifies the organism.
Related procedures — Biopsies, Lab & Pathology Tests
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