Health Topics for Tests and Exams

Respiratory Care

Cellular Immunology Diagnostic Lab

Biopsy

A biopsy removes a small piece of tissue for testing in a lab. It is used to help diagnose infections, cancer, and various other diseases. Biopsies use a variety of ways to obtain tissue. The procedure chosen depends on access to the tissue. It also depends on how sensitive the organ is.

Some biopsies simply require a needle puncture. Some may require surgery. Still others may involve passing a long flexible scope into the body. This way an internal site can be seen without major surgery. After tissue is removed, it is sent to a lab where technicians view it under a microscope or perform other tests.

Some common biopsy sites involve the:

• breast

• prostate gland

• cervix

• liver

• large and small intestine

• lung

• bone

• thyroid gland

• lymph nodes and

• skin

An aspiration biopsy draws out tissue by suction. A needle biopsy bores into the organ, removing a small plug of tissue. Both require inserting a needle into the target tissue to numb the puncture site. Usually the needle is in the body only for a few seconds.

An open biopsy involves a surgical cut. After the biopsy, the surgeon stitches the opening.

Biopsies are often done during exams with an endoscope. An endoscope is a long, thin, telescope device that is used to explore the digestive tract or the abdomen. This type of biopsy may be used for intestinal polyps, the pancreas, and ovaries.

Recovery from a biopsy varies widely by the tissue type and the type of biopsy done.

Consult the UI Health Care Cancer Information Service for more information about this topic.

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