A biopsy is an invasive medical procedure used to collect a sample of tissue from within the body. In some cases, the procedure may not be invasive if the tissue being collected is from the surface of the skin itself. Biopsy procedures allow doctors to check the patient for a number of different possible ailments through one single sample. There are different types of biopsies that could be conducted and cervical lymph node biopsy is one of them. Biopsies are conducted on areas of the body where an abnormality has been detected. When it comes to a lymph node biopsy, one is speaking of a procedure where one of the various lymph nodes in the body is being analyzed. Normally, lymph nodes go unnoticed as they are well under the skin surface. However, when there is an infection or disease affecting the node, it will become inflamed and therefore more prominent. An inflamed node is also quite sore to touch. It is usually this pain that prompts the individual to visit a doctor for analysis.
A cervical lymph node biopsy is the name given to a neck lymph node biopsy. This is because the cervical spine passes through the neck. There are some lymph nodes that exist in the neck area which may get inflamed. Most cervical lymph node biopsy procedures are performed using needles to get a small sample from the affected area. Doctors tend to resist cutting through the skin for a full biopsy unless there is evidence to suggest that the node is cancerous in which case as much as possible will be removed.
When used for diagnostic purposes, a cervical lymph node biopsy procedure usually lasts just a few minutes following which the patient is allowed to return home after the wound has been sufficiently covered and sterilized. The cervical lymph node biopsy is more complicated when there is surgery involved. A cervical lymph node biopsy surgery is usually performed with the patient under full anesthesia because there is a risk of the patient moving while delicate cutting around the neck is taking place. The neck contains vital blood vessels and the spinal cord as well. Its safety is thus paramount.
The most obvious cervical lymph node biopsy complication is the development of an infection at the wound. This is true of any biopsy or surgical procedure. Adequately cleaned medical instruments should be used. During the follow up, the patient should also make sure that the wound is cleaned regularly and sterilized with anti-septic creams or liquids.