Chest Biopsy Results

Readers may remember that recently a suspicious area in a CT scan had grown significantly over a six weeks period while other areas remained stable. My case was presented to the Tumor Board, and it was determined that the CT’s were indeterminate, so they recommended a biopsy of the area to determine whether it was fluid or tissue.

I had the biopsy today, and it was another interesting experience. I was happy that they needed me to be awake and able to respond to their orders, because I wouldn’t have learned anything had I been unconscious. Here’s what happened. After being dressed in a gown and placed in bed, I was wheeled over to the radiology department where I was placed in the CT machine. If you’ve ever had a CT scan, then you know that you are placed on a narrow bed and moved feet first into a machine that looks something like a giant doughnut. The doctors took a preliminary scan and studied it to plan how to get the needle through the overlying tissue. There were three areas of risk. First because they were going to have to go through the lung, there was the risk of a lung collapse because of air leaking from the puncture site. There was also a risk of bleeding, and finally a risk of infection. The doctor who visited with me prior to the procedure said they might not be able to find a safe path to the target because of the location of the target area (near the middle of the chest and near the major blood vessels at the top of the heart) and might have to cancel the procedure.

They found a path and began by giving me a local anesthetic at a couple of locations on my chest. That was the only painful part of the procedure, and it was really just a pin prick. Then the doctor began the procedure. I was not able to observe much visually because they took away my glasses, but I could tell what the doctor was doing. He would insert the needle, then take quick CT scan to see where it had gone. Then the two doctors would say a few words about what to do next, and repeat the process.

After a few minutes they reached the target and withdrew a sample—a fluid not tissue. I was pleased to hear the news! I do not know how much better it is to find a fluid, but in my ignorance, I’ll take fluid over tissue. The fluid was slightly darker than what I would call “straw colored,” and I was glad to see that it was clear. That’s got to be better than cloudy. I’ll see my oncologist tomorrow and find out more where the liquid might have come from and it’s significance. It will be about a week before the complete results come back from the pathologists.

After the procedure, they gave me a chest x-ray that showed no complications and took me back to recovery where I was to wait for four hours. After a couple of hours I had another chest X-ray that also showed no complications, so they cancelled the third X-ray and let me go an hour early. Unfortunately, the nurse failed to call Jana to come get me, so I sat in the waiting area for the third hour anyway.

All in all, it was a successful day.

David