Health Information
Lymph Node Biopsy
Results
A lymph node Reference biopsy Opens New Window removes Reference lymph node tissue Opens New Window to be looked at under a microscope for signs of infection or a disease, such as cancer. Test results from a lymph node biopsy are usually available within a few days. Finding some types of infections may take longer.
The lymph node sample is usually treated with special dyes (stains) that color the cells and make problems more visible.
| Normal: |
The lymph node has normal numbers of lymph node cells. |
|---|---|
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The structure of the lymph node and the appearance of the cells in it are normal. |
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No signs of infection are present. |
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| Abnormal: |
Signs of infection, such as Reference mononucleosis (mono) Opens New Window or Reference tuberculosis (TB) Opens New Window, may be present. |
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Cancer cells may be present. Cancer may begin in the lymph node, such as Reference Hodgkin's lymphoma Opens New Window, or may have spread from other sites, such as in Reference metastatic breast cancer Opens New Window. |
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference March 29, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Reference C. Dale Mercer, MD, FRCSC, FACS - General Surgery |
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