Lymph node biopsy in neck?

[underwaterrhymes]

Has anyone had this done? I have multiple nodes in my neck that need biopsied. I am obviously going to get more information from my doctor, but since it’s the weekend, I thought I’d see if anyone can weigh in. I’m specifically wondering if it’s usually a surgical process or done in the doctor’s office with a needle.

[IrishBelle]

I’ve had my thyroid biopsied. It was not surgical and was done with local anesthesia at a hospital. Not gonna lie. It was painful.


Of course that may be different with multiple nodes. Good luck to you!

[timorousbeastie]

I have had both a needle core biopsy and a full surgical removal of a lymph node in my neck. The needle biopsy was done in the doctor’s office with just a local anesthetic, the surgery was done in the hospital under general anesthesia. Both were done by an ENT/plastic surgeon.

I did learn from my oncologist later that needle core biopsies are pretty useless for what they were looking for in my case (Hodgkin’s lymphoma), and that he always recommends going straight to the surgical removal so that there is more tissue to examine. That is because with Hodgkin’s, very little of the enlarged lymph node is actually made up of cancer cells, so the odds of catching them with the small samples from the needle core biopsy are pretty slim. So, depending on what your doctor is looking for, they may recommend going right to a full excision as well. (And speaking from personal experience, I would want to do the surgery as well. At least in my case, my diagnosis was only delayed by a couple months, but I know far too many people who weren’t diagnosed for months/years because they relied on the needle core biopsy. )

If you have any questions about either procedure, I’d be happy to answer. I hope your biopsy goes well and everything comes back clean.

[underwaterrhymes]

Thank you both. I had half my thyroid removed in 2016, but they didn’t even biopsy because my nodule was so large, they were worried they’d miss any disease. That was benign, but I’d rather go more invasive than miss something critical.

[IrishBelle]

Our stories sound similar. I had half of my thyroid removed in 2003. After it was removed it was found to benign. I’ve been monitored with blood tests and ultrasounds annually since then but another node was discovered last year which led to the latest biopsy.

[majique]

I had my thyroid biopsied with a fine needle biopsy. They used local anesthetic and it did not hurt at all. The biopsied three nodules, one of which was pretty small and about the size of a lymph node. This was done in a doctor office that specializes in fine needle biopsy. Ended up with cancer in the small nodule.

[Scout'sHonor]

I will ditto timorousbeastie, since mine was due to Hodgkin’s as well. Needle biopsy was very easy since they numbed the area. Full excision was under and I only have a tiny scar. Either way, I hope it comes back clear.

[letsgetweird]

My grandma had this done recently. It was in the office and they used local anesthesia.

[MixedBerryJam]

No experience or advice, just hugs. You and your family have been through enough already! Good luck!

[mofongo]

(( underwaterrhymes)) It’s just been too much!! 😣

[rubytue]

I has one excisional biopsy (where they take the whole node) in an ENT office under local, plus calming pills of some sort (back before I knew to ask, likely Ativan). I slept through most, but woke up and was talking with the doctor at the end. I even asked to see it. Loopy drugs were good 😂 The week before, they has done a fine needle aspiration, which was inconclusive. I has nothing before that, and I vasogvageled (passed out).

I’ve also has biopsies of nodes in my mediastinum, and they went in through the neck, but that was under general anesthesia.

Like timorousbeastie, mine were for lymphoma. And if there is any hint they are considering that, I’d suggest going straight to excisional. Needle biopsies, core or fine, aren’t much for some lymphomas, Hodgkins in particular. And big hugs! I hope that’s not why they are looking. But, I’ve done it twice and am still kicking around.

For after care, you’ll probably have steri-strips and have to wait 48 hours to shower. After that, get a good scar cream (with silicone). My ENT was also a plastic surgeon, so he put the incision right in the folds of the neck and it’s not visible at all. My cardiothorosic surgeon, not so much. Also, lots of sunscreen. If scars tan in the first 6 months, they can be permanently tan. Going into summer, this is important to not.

[underwaterrhymes]

Thanks, everyone. I’m so sorry for everyone whose biopsies have come back malignant. 💙

My doctor actually called me this morning to discuss and she’s referred me to an ENT. So I’ll give them a call on Monday.

MixedBerryJam and mofongo - I know. We have had so many health scares and issues. It’s exhausting. My body really likes to make scary but ultimately benign things, so right now I’m operating on the hope that this will be the same.

[underwaterrhymes]

rubytue - that’s very helpful. I’ll ask them about that when I’m there. I know that blood cancers aren’t really hereditary, but my sister has CLL/SLL, my uncle has non-Hodgkin’s (and has had for more than 20 - maybe 30? - years), and my aunt died of leukemia (CML).

[wanderlustmom]

I had a thyroid biopsy about 20 years ago in my endocrinologist office and I did think it hurt. I so hope yours doesn't and that you get good results.

[CloudBee]

I showed up to my core needle biopsy appointment, and walked away with an appointment for a full lymph node resection surgery about 13 years ago. (Under general anesthesia.) As someone mentioned above, surgeons don't always feel they can obtain adequate samples with a needle biopsy.