Biopsy for brain tumours

Types of brain tumour biopsies

A biopsy is done by a specialist surgeon, called a neurosurgeon. You usually have it as part of the operation to remove the brain tumour, but you may also have it on its own.

The results of your biopsy give your surgeon information about the tumour. It can show the type and grade of your brain tumour. This helps them to decide the best treatment for you.

Find out about the grade of brain tumours

There are different types of biopsies. The difference between them is the way the surgeon does the biopsy. You might have:

• a biopsy as part of the operation to remove the tumour

• a needle biopsy

• an open biopsy 

• a neuroendoscopy 

Preparing for your biopsy

Your nurse and surgeon will give you more information on how to prepare for your biopsy and what to expect. You can ask any questions you may have to help you understand what will happen.

You usually have a pre operative assessment appointment about a week or two before your biopsy. This is to make sure you are well enough to have the anaesthetic and biopsy.

At your appointment, you will meet members of the healthcare team. You will have some tests, for example, blood tests and an ECG. These tests are similar across hospitals, but what you have exactly may vary slightly.

You will usually meet a member of your surgical team. They will explain what will happen during the biopsy and how you might feel afterwards. They will also talk to you about the risks and benefits of the procedure and ask you to sign a consent form. This is a good time to ask any questions you may have.

Read more about having a pre operative assessment

Before your biopsy

You might go to the hospital the morning of the biopsy or the night before your procedure.

Medicines

Take your medicines as normal unless your doctor tells you otherwise. If you take medicines to thin your blood, you might need to stop these before your biopsy. Your doctor will let you know when to stop.

Preventing blood clots

Your nurse might give you stockings to wear while you can’t move around as much as usual afterwards. These are tight stockings that squeeze your feet and legs, helping the blood to circulate better.

Washing

Make sure you have a shower or a bath the night before your operation. Your nurse might give you a special antiseptic cleaning soap to use.

Eating and drinking

You have this test under a general anaesthetic so you can’t eat and drink for a few hours beforehand. Your appointment letter will tell you exactly when to stop eating and drinking.

Find out more about going into hospital

What happens

You have the biopsy in an operating theatre. Before you go in, you change into a hospital gown. A nurse takes you to the theatre. You have a small tube (cannula) into a vein in your hand. Your anaesthetist gives you medicine through the tube to make you sleep. While you are asleep, the doctor takes the biopsy.

After the biopsy, you go to the recovery room for a few hours.

After your biopsy

You might feel a bit drowsy from the anaesthetic when you wake up. You should be able to eat and drink once you are fully awake.

You go from the recovery area to the ward. Your nurse will keep a close eye on you for the first few hours. Your team asks you questions and gives you instructions to follow to check that you are fully awake. They will shine a light in your eyes to check your pupil reaction.

You have medicines to help with any pain you might have. It's not usually too uncomfortable. You might also have a CT scan of your brain before you go home.

Going home

Your doctor will let you know when you can go home. Everyone takes a different amount of time to recover from a biopsy.

You might have the biopsy as a day case, which means you can go home the same day. Some people may stay overnight until they feel well enough to go home.

If you go home on the same day, an adult needs to accompany you and stay with you for the next 24 hours. All this will be explained to you before you have the biopsy.

You will also have a letter with contact numbers so you can contact your healthcare team if you have any questions.

Medicines

Take any medicines you have been prescribed, exactly as your doctor or pharmacist told you. Your pharmacist can make you a reminder sheet if it would help you. Take your painkillers regularly if they have been prescribed. Speak to your GP or hospital doctor if you find that they aren’t working. They can do a lot to help, like changing the amount or the type of pain killers.

Driving

You must not drive after having a brain biopsy. Your neurosurgeon will let you know how long you must not drive for and when it's safe to start driving again.

Possible risks

A biopsy is a very safe procedure but your nurse will tell you who to contact if you have any problems afterwards. Your doctors will make sure the benefits of having a biopsy outweigh these possible risks.

The possible risks of having a biopsy include:

Bleeding 

You may have some bleeding in your brain during or after the biopsy. This is usually a small amount. Your team will check for any signs of bleeding in your brain. 

Infection

You may have antibiotics if you have signs of infection such as a fluid discharge from the area of the biopsy. Or a high temperature (fever).

Bruising and swelling

You might have bruising around the area where they put the cannula in and where they take the biopsy.

You may have drugs called steroids before and after the biopsy to help with swelling in your brain.

Seizure (fits)

There is a risk of a seizures after having a biopsy. Your nurse and doctor will give you more information about this.

Headache

You might have a headache or feel tired afterwards.

More information

We have more information on tests, treatment and support if you have been diagnosed with a brain or spinal cord tumour.

Go to the brain and spinal cord tumours main page