Having a bone biopsy

A bone biopsy is a procedure done under X-ray or CT guidance. We remove a small sample of bone using a needle and send the sample to be tested in a laboratory.

Before your bone biopsy

Before your biopsy, we arrange for you to have some simple blood tests. The IR doctor needs to see a list of all your medicines. This includes any:

• tablets
• inhalers
• creams
• medicines that you buy in a pharmacy or shop, such as herbal remedies

Please bring a copy of your current prescription or a list of all your medicines to your pre-assessment appointment.

Sometimes, certain medicines need to be stopped before your procedure. This includes:

• anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines that help to prevent blood clots, such as warfarin or clopidogrel
• medicines for diabetes, such as metformin or glibenclamide

The IR doctor or nurse explains if you should stop any medicines and when you can start taking them again after your procedure.

If you need a hoist (piece of medical equipment to help lift or move you safely), transport or a translator, please contact the interventional radiology (IR) department.

On the day of the procedure

Here is some guidance about what to do on the day of your bone biopsy procedure:

If you come to hospital with family or friends, we have limited space in the interventional radiology (IR) department. We may ask them to wait in the main X-ray reception.

Giving your permission (consent)

We want to involve you in decisions about your care and treatment. If you decide to have a bone biopsy, we will ask you to sign a consent form. This says that you understand what is involved and agree to have the treatment.

You can read more about our consent process.

During the procedure

A bone biopsy is a quick procedure. The whole process takes about 30 to 45 minutes due to safety checks and preparation.

1. A nurse takes you into the procedure room. At least 2 nurses and an IR doctor are with you at all times.
2. You have a local anaesthetic medicine for the biopsy procedure. This means that you are awake, but we give you a medicine to make the area numb and free from pain. You should only feel the minimum amount of discomfort.
3. Sometimes, we give you sedation medicine or stronger painkillers through a vein to make you sleepy (drowsy).
4. The IR doctor positions you to make the biopsy as easy as possible.
5. The nurses check your blood pressure and pulse throughout the procedure, and make sure that you are comfortable.
6. The IR doctor uses an X-ray machine or CT scanner to help guide a special needle to the right place. This machine or scanner passes over you but does not touch you.
7. We do the procedure through the skin and directly into the bone. The IR doctor takes a small sample of bone using the special needle.
8. We send the sample of bone to be examined under a microscope in a laboratory.
9. After the procedure, you have a small dressing over the area where we put in the needle. You do not need any stitches.