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    Biopsy Risk: by Jehanne Calinga

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    jhe0869
    Biopsies carry some risk of cancer spread, but the risks are generally low and depend on the type of biopsy and cancer. [1] Superficial skin cancers and small breast or lymphatic cancers can often be completely removed with little risk when biopsied. [2] Core and needle biopsies carry a small risk of implanting cancer in the needle tract, but this is rare. [3] Incision biopsies of large cancers like sarcomas carry higher risks of implantation and potential bloodstream spread, but the area would be removed in subsequent operations and the risks of not diagnosing are greater.

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    Biopsy Risk: by Jehanne Calinga

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    jhe0869
    23 views4 pages
    Biopsies carry some risk of cancer spread, but the risks are generally low and depend on the type of biopsy and cancer. [1] Superficial skin cancers and small breast or lymphatic cancers can often be completely removed with little risk when biopsied. [2] Core and needle biopsies carry a small risk of implanting cancer in the needle tract, but this is rare. [3] Incision biopsies of large cancers like sarcomas carry higher risks of implantation and potential bloodstream spread, but the area would be removed in subsequent operations and the risks of not diagnosing are greater.

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    Biopsies carry some risk of cancer spread, but the risks are generally low and depend on the type of biopsy and cancer. [1] Superficial skin cancers and small breast or lymphatic cancers can often be completely removed with little risk when biopsied. [2] Core and needle biopsies carry a small risk of implanting cancer in the needle tract, but this is rare. [3] Incision biopsies of large cancers like sarcomas carry higher risks of implantation and potential bloodstream spread, but the area would be removed in subsequent operations and the risks of not diagnosing are greater.

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    23 views4 pages

    Biopsy Risk: by Jehanne Calinga

    Uploaded by

    jhe0869
    Biopsies carry some risk of cancer spread, but the risks are generally low and depend on the type of biopsy and cancer. [1] Superficial skin cancers and small breast or lymphatic cancers can often be completely removed with little risk when biopsied. [2] Core and needle biopsies carry a small risk of implanting cancer in the needle tract, but this is rare. [3] Incision biopsies of large cancers like sarcomas carry higher risks of implantation and potential bloodstream spread, but the area would be removed in subsequent operations and the risks of not diagnosing are greater.

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    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 4

    Biopsy Risk

    By Jehanne Calinga
    • There should be little risk of spread by a biopsy in which the cancerous lump is easily
    and completely removed. This is possible with superficial skin cancers including
    melanoma, lymphatic tumors, and small breast cancers. It is also unlikely that taking
    a 2-3 mm bite out of a fungating or ulcerating cancer anywhere in the
    gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, or bladder during endoscopic examinations,
    the usual mode of biopsy, is going to increase spread. These cancers are already
    subjected to significant trauma on a daily basis. Bits probably break off all the time
    and cause the bleeding that is their most common symptom.
    • Core and needle biopsies can occasionally implant cancer in the needle tract, but
    cases where this is a significant problem are rare. Wherever possible, for example
    after breast lump biopsy, care is taken to cut out the needle track when the patient
    has further surgery. I know of no evidence that such biopsies can induce blood
    stream spread, but it is a theoretical possibility. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNA)
    is less traumatic than the larger needles used for core biopsies and should be safer,
    although the latter will provide more information about the cancer in some
    situations.
    • The main risks of serious spread will apply with incision biopsies, where a
    chunk is cut out of a cancer that is too large to completely remove in a
    simple diagnostic procedure and when a detailed diagnosis is required
    before definitive treatment can be planned. This would apply mainly with
    sarcomas—cancers of soft tissue and bone.

    • However, the risk of implantation is well known, so biopsies of this type


    are carefully planned so that that whole area would be removed in any
    subsequent operation.

    • The potential for blood stream spread is not yet known, but is
    theoretically possible or even likely. However, the risks of going without a
    diagnosis when effective treatment is available are much greater.
    End..

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