Lymph Node BiopsyLymph nodes are part of our immune system and play a role defending our body from bacteria, viruses, inflammatory conditions, and even cancer. It is not uncommon to have one or more lymph nodes enlarge and excision is recommended. The procedure involves making an incision over or near the lymph node and excising all or a portion of the lymph node(s) in order to send the tissue to a pathologist to establish a diagnosis. A lymph node biopsy is commonly performed under local or general anesthesia as an outpatient. The reasons you should be considering this procedure will be discussed with Dr. Speyer prior to scheduling. All of the possible indications are too many to list here and should be reviewed with Dr. Speyer with regards to your specific needs. Dr. Speyer will discuss the risks, benefits, and alternatives to this procedure with you in detail. Listed below are some of the disclosed risks of undergoing a lymph node biopsy. By reading and signing below, you are stating that you indeed understand the nature of the procedure, the risks as listed, and alternatives to undergoing the procedure. Risks of lymph node biopsy include, but are not limited to, bleeding, infection, failure to obtain enough tissue for diagnosis and the need to obtain additional tissue at a later date, post-operative fluid collections, nerve weakness or paralysis either temporary or permanent to the spinal accessory nerve, laryngeal nerve(s), and facial nerve. Numbness around or near the incision is possible as well. All incisions carry the risk of scarring which will be minimized by hiding the incision in a skin crease and using fine sutures to result in the most acceptable cosmetic outcome. Lastly, since you are undergoing a general anesthetic, this alone carries its own risks regardless of the surgery considered. The risks of general anesthesia include, but are not limited to, the risk of heart attack, stroke, drug reactions, and even death. You should discuss your specific risks assessment with the anesthesiologist during your preoperative anesthetic appointment.
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