biopsy

WKP

Definition: A biopsy is an extraction of a cellualr or tissular sample (cells or tissues ) for examination to determine the presence or extent of a disease or a tumor.

It is a medical test commonly performed by a surgeon, interventional radiologist, or an interventional cardiologist.

The tissue is generally examined under a microscope by a pathologist , and can also be analyzed chemically.

When an entire lump or suspicious area is removed, the procedure is called an excisional biopsy.

When only a sample of tissue is removed with preservation of the histological architecture of the tissue’s cells, the procedure is called an incisional biopsy or core biopsy.

When a sample of tissue or fluid is removed with a needle in such a way that cells are removed without preserving the histological architecture of the tissue cells, the procedure is called a needle aspiration biopsy.

Biopsies are most commonly performed for insight into possible cancerous (tumoral biopsy ) and inflammatory conditions.

Examples

 endometrial biopsy

Types

 excisional biopsy
 incisional biopsy / core biopsy
 needle aspiration biopsy / fine needle aspiration - FNA