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What Are MIIPs? / Getting a tissue sample from the lung
Why do I need a lung biopsy?
A biopsy can help doctors figure out what is going on inside you.
Your doctor may send you for a lung biopsy if an x-ray or CT scan showed an abnormal spot on your lung. Not all abnormal spots are dangerous but some can be serious like cancer or an infection. A biopsy can help your doctor figure out what the spot is and how best to treat it. A biopsy can also help you avoid unnecessary treatments.
What is a biopsy?
A biopsy is when a doctor takes a small piece of your tissue in order to figure out what is going on inside you. Doctors do this by looking at the piece of tissue very closely under a microscope.
If they find cancer, they can tell what type of cancer it is and even what kinds of treatments may work best. Some spots are not cancer and there may be no need for treatment. Some spots are due to infection, so treatment would include antibiotics or other medicines.
How is the lung biopsy done?
Biopsies can be done in one of 2 ways:
- With surgery, through an incision or cut in the skin
- With a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure (MIIP), through a pinhole in the skin
MIIP biopsies can be done almost anywhere in the body with local numbing medicines alone or with medicines to make you drowsy.
- You will lay on your back or your belly on the bed of the CT scanner. You may be asked to have your arms above your head, so tell your doctor if you have shoulder problems.
- Your skin will be cleaned.
- A doctor trained in MIIPs will numb your skin so that you do not feel pain.
- By using the CT scan to look inside your body from the outside, the doctor will guide a small needle through your skin and into your body.
- The doctor will use the needle to collect small pieces of tissue. You may hear a clicking noise when the doctor takes the sample.
- Another specialized doctor will look at these small pieces carefully under a microscope and make a diagnosis.
MIIP biopsies usually take around an hour or less. Patients usually go home the same day, usually within a few hours after the biopsy.
What are the risks of a MIIP biopsy?
MIIP biopsies are low risk procedures. There is a small risk of deflating the lung and an even smaller risk of collapsing the lung. If the lung deflates a little bit, it usually does not cause symptoms and will heal naturally. If the lung collapses, your doctor can place a small tube to help your lung inflate again.
Uncommon complications include bleeding, infection, and damage to surrounding tissues.
Your doctor will discuss all of the risks and benefits with you before the biopsy.
What happens after the biopsy?
Your medical team will watch you for several hours after the biopsy to make sure you do not develop bleeding or other uncommon complications. After this rest, you will be allowed to go home. Your doctor will call you with the results of the biopsy, usually in 1-2 weeks.
For more information about biopsies:
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=biopgen
http://www.sirweb.org/patients/needle-biopsy/
http://www.sirweb.org/medical-professionals/GR_PDFs/nb.pdf
http://cirse.org/index.php?pid=1017
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/submenu.cfm?pg=biop