Image-Guided Biopsy

Symptoms of excess abdominal fluid (ascites) include abdominal swelling and pain.  Typical symptoms of pleural effusions include pain and difficulty breathing.

Pleural effusions may be diagnosed with chest x-rays, ultrasound, or CT.  Ascites may be diagnosed by ultrasound, CT, or MRI.

At the time of your procedure, you will change into a gown. Your doctor will use CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), X-ray, or ultrasound images as a guide. Your doctor will put a small needle through your skin after applying local numbing medicine. The needle will be guided to the area where the biopsy is to be done.  Your doctor will then take out a small sample of tissue or fluid from the area and send it to the lab.  You will have a bandage placed over your incision site and you can go home if you have no pain or signs of bleeding.