biopsy
an adjunct to DIAGNOSIS that involves removing a small sample of living tissue from the body for examination under the microscope. The technique is particularly important in differentiating between benign and malignant tumours. A biopsy can be undertaken with a hollow needle inserted into the relevant organ.
A biopsy is a procedure that removes cells or tissue from your body. A doctor called a pathologist looks at the cells or tissue under a microscope to check for damage or disease. The pathologist may also do other tests on it.
Biopsies can be done on all parts of the body. In most cases, a biopsy is the only test that can tell for sure if a suspicious area is cancer. But biopsies are performed for many other reasons too.
There are different types of biopsies. A needle biopsy removes tissue with a needle passed through your skin to the site of the problem. Other kinds of biopsies may require surgery.
biopsy