Lymph Node Biopsy: Risks
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Risks
There is a chance of an infection at the biopsy site. An infection can be treated with antibiotics.
Call your doctor immediately if:
- Your pain lasts longer than a week.
- You have redness, a lot of swelling, bleeding, or pus from the biopsy site.
- You have a fever.
- There is fluid buildup in the area where the lymph node was taken out (lymphedema). This occurs most often when removing the lymph nodes that run in a line from under the arm to the collarbone (axillary lymph nodes). This can happen immediately after surgery or even months or years later. Most people who have a lymph node biopsy do not have a problem with lymphedema.
- Numbness in the skin near the biopsy site. This may be caused by nerve damage.
| Last updated: | May 01, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Reviewed By: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine, Brent Shoji, MD - General Surgery |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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