Nasal mucosal biopsy

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Nasal biopsy

Sinuses

Throat anatomy

A nasal mucosal biopsy is surgery in which a small piece of tissue is removed from the lining of the nose and checked for disease.

Biopsy - nasal mucosa; Nose biopsy

A pain-killer is sprayed into the nose. In some cases, a numbing shot may be used. A small piece of the tissue that appears abnormal is removed and checked for problems in the laboratory.

No special preparation is necessary. You may be asked to fast for a few hours before the biopsy.

There may feelings of pressure or tugging during removal of the tissue. After the numbness wears off, the area may be sore for a few days. If there is bleeding, cautery (sealing of blood vessels with electric current or laser) may be needed.

Nasal mucosal biopsy is usually done when abnormal tissue is seen during examination of the nose. It may also be done when problems affecting the mucosal tissue of the nose are suspected.

Review Date: 08/08/2005
Reviewed By: Kevin Fung, M.D., FRCS(C), Department of Otolaryngology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.