The Huffington Post—July 29, 2009
Like any invasive procedure, there are precautions to tissue sampling. Helene Pavlov, MD, FACR, Radiologist-in-Chief at Hospital for Special Surgery's Department of Radiology and Imaging in New York, has some tips and things to keep in mind for patients undergoing the procedure.
Inform your physician and radiologist of any allergies before the procedure.
Blood tests may be ordered within two weeks of the procedure in order to evaluate your blood count and to check your clotting profile. Inform your doctor of any medications you are taking, especially if they are blood thinners, as you will need to plan to stop them a few days before the procedure.
Be sure to inform your doctor and radiologist if you are currently or might be pregnant. X-rays are usually not performed on women who are pregnant as the risks generally outweigh the benefits of the test.
Risks associated with procedures involving a needle:
For questions or concerns before a tissue sampling procedure, consult your physician and radiologist.
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