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At UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, we believe parents and guardians can contribute to the success of this procedure and invite you to participate. Please read the following information to learn about the procedure and how you can help.
A biopsy is a procedure that takes tissue samples in order to but not limited to finding out the nature of a tumor or the type and severity of kidney or liver disease.
When a doctor needs to see the best and safest spot from which to take the tissue, an image-guided biopsy is used. The biopsy is done while your child is having a CT scan, an ultrasound, or an X-ray to see inside the body, depending on where the tumor is located. Using the images or pictures as a guide, the doctor will place a thin needle into the body at the spot where the biopsy is needed. The needle will take out a tiny piece of tissue that can be tested in the lab.
Because images are needed to guide the placement of the needle during a biopsy, this procedure is usually done in one of two areas:
You may want to bring along a “comfort” item — such as a favorite stuffed animal or “blankie” — for your child to hold during the procedure.
If your child is having sedation or anesthesia, there are important rules for eating and drinking that must be followed in the hours before the procedure.
The image-guided biopsy is done by the Interventional Radiology staff in the Department of Pediatric Radiology at UPMC Children’s Hospital. Interventional Radiology performs minimally-invasive procedures with image guidance.
The procedure will be done in either the Interventional Radiology suite or a CT scan room. In the room will be a pediatric interventional radiology doctor, who will do the image-guided biopsy, as well as pediatric radiology technologists and nurses who will help the doctor. Other medical and imaging staff also may be present to help during the procedure. The doctor and other staff will be wearing hats (like shower caps), masks, gloves and lead aprons during the procedure. The lights will be dim inside the room.
If the biopsy is done in the Interventional Radiology suite, inside the room you will see an X-ray machine, an ultrasound machine, a long table and television screens. You might explain to your child that the X-ray machine is a large camera for taking pictures that will be seen on the TV screens.
If the biopsy is done in a CT scan room, inside the room you will see the CT machine with a long table that will slide into the tube-shaped or tunnel-like scanner where the camera is located. If your child has any questions, the staff will be happy to answer them before the procedure.
As a parent, you may have concerns about radiation exposure. Children’s Hospital takes every precaution to make sure your child is safe. Our goal is to do the procedure correctly and thoroughly, while exposing your child to the smallest amount of radiation necessary to take the X-rays.
We welcome your help and support before and after the biopsy. The most important role of a parent and guardian is to help your child stay calm and relaxed before the procedure.
When your child returns to his or her room, your child may need to lie on either his or her right side or back for 2 to 4 hours, depending on the type of biopsy and where on the body it was done. The pediatric interventional radiology doctor will give you specific instructions. Your child is asked to remain in bed for this period of time in order to reduce the chances of bleeding or other complications after the biopsy.
A report of your child’s biopsy results will be sent to the doctor who prescribed it. Your doctor will relay these results to you. Results usually are not available on the same day the biopsy was done.
If your child has any special needs or health issues you feel the doctor needs to know about, please call the Department of Pediatric Radiology at Children’s and ask to speak with a nurse before your child’s biopsy is done. It is important to notify us in advance about any special needs.
Before you come to the hospital, explain to your child what will happen in words that he or she can understand. Preparing your child beforehand, as well as comforting your child during the test, will help your child have a more positive experience. Sometimes it is difficult to know how to explain tests to children. If you have any questions about ways to prepare or support your child, please contact the child life specialist at the phone number listed below.
Children's Hospital's main campus is located in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. Our main hospital address is:
UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh One Children’s Hospital Way 4401 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15224
In addition to the main hospital, Children's has many convenient locations in other neighborhoods throughout the greater Pittsburgh region.
With MyCHP, you can request appointments, review test results, and more.
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Interested in giving to Children's Hospital? Support the hospital by making a donation online, joining our Heroes in Healing monthly donor program, or visiting our site to learn about the other ways you can give back.