What Can You Expect After a Lung Biopsy?

If your doctor has pointed out some abnormality in your chest x-ray or CT scan of your lung, they might ask you to get your lung biopsy done. In this procedure, a sample of tissue or cells can be taken from your lungs to examine it more closely in the laboratory. Apart from this, if you’re experiencing an unusual set of symptoms, your doctor may also recommend a biopsy to rule out other possibilities. In several cases, the sample is collected from a mass or tumor. Basically, your doctor can advise you to undergo a biopsy for a lot of health issues. Whatever the reason, you may have a lot of queries about the procedure, including the cost of the same.

How can you prepare for a lung biopsy?

A full physical exam and blood tests may be recommended by your doctor to ensure the safety of a lung biopsy.

Inform them if you are pregnant or if you have any allergies, including those to latex or drugs.

You should also inform them about any medications you’re taking, like blood thinners(aspirin).

Before undergoing such a procedure, you need to consider the following instructions:

• Signing consent paper
• You should stop eating and drinking at least 8 hours before your lung biopsy, which is usually around midnight.
• However, you can drink water in the morning

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What can you expect after a lung biopsy?

Your lung biopsy sample will be sent to a lab, and the results will be available within a week.

A chest X-ray may be ordered to ensure that your lungs are functioning properly. You should be able to go home after a few hours if you weren't asleep.

It is not safe to drive, so have someone pick you up. Otherwise, you may need to spend one or more nights in the hospital.

Your chest may feel sore for the next few days. If you have a wound from the procedure, clean it according to your doctor's instructions.

You can usually resume your normal activities, but you should avoid strenuous physical activity for a few days. Take only the pain medications prescribed by your doctor.

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What are the various types of lung biopsy?

A lung biopsy may help you to figure out why there is water in your lungs or whether you have cancer or not.

• Bronchoscopy: Your doctor inserts a flexible tube about the size of a pencil into your mouth or nose and then into your lungs. A light and a camera assist in guiding tiny tools that extract cells from your lung through the tube.

• Lung needle biopsy: This type of lung biopsy is usually performed when bronchoscopy cannot reach the cells. A needle is inserted through your chest between two ribs to collect a sample from the outer area of your lungs.

• Open lung biopsy: Your doctor will usually only recommend this type of biopsy if other methods have failed to obtain cell samples.

• Thoracoscopic lung biopsy: This procedure will be performed under general anesthesia, which means you will not be awake during it. Your doctor inserts a breathing tube into your lungs and monitors your breathing, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and heart rate.

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The cost of lung biopsy in India

The biopsy test cost in India may vary based on various factors. The cost of a biopsy in India may range from Rs. 4000 to Rs. 10,000.

With other test costs, including blood tests, X-RAY, ultrasound, PET scan, and CT scan, the price might be around Rs, 50,000 to Rs. 55,000.

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Is lung biopsy painful?

While a biopsy may sound frightening, keep in mind that the majority of them are completely painless and low-risk procedures. Depending on the circumstances, a piece of skin, tissue, organ, or suspected tumor will be surgically removed and sent to a lab for analysis.

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How can we help with the treatment?

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