How painful is that?

The lymph node biopsy should not cause any pain during the procedure, as the procedure is performed under either local or general anesthesia. After the operation, there may be some pain in the wound area, as the tissue and also smaller skin nerves were injured during the procedure. The pain may continue until complete healing, but usually disappears after a few days. However, they can be controlled with light painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol. A slight cooling of the affected area can also help to relieve the pain.

Do I need an anesthetic for this?

Depending on the location of the lymph node, anesthesia may be necessary. In the case of very superficial lymph nodes, local anesthesia may be possible and the patient may remain awake during the procedure. However, if the lymph nodes are deeper or if several lymph nodes are to be removed at once, general anesthesia is necessary.

Is this possible on an outpatient basis?

In principle, an outpatient lymph node biopsy, in which the patient goes home a few hours after the procedure, is possible. However, the decision must be made individually, depending on the extent of the procedure and the course of the operation. The patient’s general state of health and previous illnesses should also be taken into consideration. If a drainage has to be inserted after the operation, it is also necessary for the patient to remain in the hospital for a few days until the drainage can be removed.

Results

After collection, the lymph nodes are placed in a solution for preservation and sent to pathology.Here they are first examined as a whole and then cut into thin layers and viewed under a microscope. Depending on the question, it can be clarified here whether a tumor has spread to the lymph nodes. It is possible to identify the cell type and thus conclusions can be drawn about the primary tumor. In the case of lymph node enlargement it can be clarified whether the enlargement has an inflammatory cause or whether the lymph node is malignant. This information can also be used to make decisions about subsequent therapy.