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Does disturbing cancer with a needle biopsy make it spread?

Sent to Health Experts January 02, 2007 10:31 a.m.

My mother has had a CT scan and PET scan that both indicated a mass in her right upper lung. Doctors want to do a needle biopsy to diagnose the kind of problem but she feels she would refuse chemo and radiation and so why mess with it. She knows it might help them help her understand the course she would expect but also has heard that doing a biopsy makes it spread faster. Thanks

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January 02, 2007 10:35 a.m. (4 minutes and 12 seconds later)

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Hello,

There's no conclusive evidence that needle biopsy (fine-needle aspiration) causes cancer cells to spread (metastasize). This procedure is sometimes used to diagnose cancer. It involves inserting a thin, hollow needle connected to a syringe into a suspicious lump and removing fluid and tissue for further examination.

For many years, there has been concern that needle biopsy may disturb cancer cells and cause them to spread. However, a study published in 2004 compared people who did and didn't have a needle biopsy before cancer treatment. Those who had the procedure showed no increased spread of cancer.

Source - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cancer/HO00033

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