Finding the right tests…
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Emergency services available 24 x 7
Finding the right tests…
CT Scan
A CT guided biopsy is a procedure rather than a plain scan. A radiologist uses live CT images to steer a hollow needle through the skin to a specific lesion - often in the lung, liver, kidney, or a lymph node - and withdraws a small core of tissue for lab testing. That tissue sample lets a pathologist examine the actual cell architecture, which is often what's needed to confirm whether a lump is cancer and identify its type. It's usually done under local anaesthetic and is far less invasive than open surgery, though a needle does enter the body, so there is a real chance of bleeding or, near the lung, a partly collapsed lung.
This procedure removes an actual piece of tissue from the target area, guided by CT images to reach it accurately. The lab examines that tissue's structure to diagnose or rule out cancer and other conditions. Your doctor and the radiologist decide beforehand exactly which needle size and approach your case needs.
CT images locate the target lesion and guide a needle through the skin, step by step, until it reaches the right spot. Once positioned, the radiologist withdraws a small core of tissue using a cutting needle, usually 1 to 2 millimetres wide. This is done under local anaesthetic, and you're usually awake through it.
A core of tissue keeps the cells in their original arrangement, which pathologists rely on to classify a tumor accurately and run additional tests like immunohistochemistry. That's different from a fine needle aspiration, which draws out loose cells rather than a solid piece of tissue.
- Lung nodules found on a prior scan - Liver or kidney masses - Enlarged lymph nodes - Bone lesions that need a tissue diagnosis
Because a needle enters the body, there's a genuine chance of bleeding at the site, infection, or, for biopsies near the lung, air leaking into the chest cavity and partly collapsing the lung. Most of these are minor and settle with monitoring, but ask your doctor how they apply to your specific biopsy site.
A regular CT scan only takes pictures. This procedure uses those images to guide a needle into the body and remove a piece of tissue, so it's a minor surgical procedure, not just imaging.
You'll get a local anaesthetic at the needle site, so you shouldn't feel sharp pain, though some pressure is normal. Ask your doctor about sedation options if you're anxious about the procedure.
The main risks are bleeding at the biopsy site and, for biopsies near the lung, a partly collapsed lung. Both are usually managed with monitoring, and serious complications are uncommon.
Most people rest for a short period at the centre afterward and can go home the same day. Ask your doctor about restrictions on activity or lifting for the following day or two.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
Blood thinners often need to be paused before a needle procedure like this. Tell your doctor about every medication you take well before your appointment.
The tissue sample goes to a lab for pathology testing, which takes time to process. Ask your doctor or the centre how long results typically take and how they'll be shared with you.
No. It's a needle procedure done through the skin under imaging guidance, without the incision or general anaesthetic that open surgical biopsy usually involves.
Often yes, since a needle biopsy can give the same tissue diagnosis without opening the body. Your doctor decides based on where the lesion is and how accessible it is with a needle.