Biopsy
A small sample of tissue taken from the body and examined under a microscope.
Definition
A biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue so a pathologist can examine it under the microscope. It is the single most important step in confirming a cancer diagnosis, because imaging alone cannot reliably tell cancer from a non-cancerous lump.
There are several biopsy techniques: a fine-needle aspiration (FNAC) draws cells through a thin needle; a core biopsy uses a wider needle to take a small cylinder of tissue; an excisional biopsy removes the entire lump; and a bone-marrow biopsy samples the spongy tissue inside large bones. The pathologist reports the tissue type, grade, and (where relevant) biomarkers such as HER2, hormone receptors and EGFR.
See also
- Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) — A quick test that uses a thin needle to draw cells from a lump for microscopic examination.
- Excisional Biopsy — A biopsy in which the entire lump or suspicious area is removed for examination.
- Bone Marrow Biopsy — A procedure that samples the spongy tissue inside a bone to look for blood-cell disorders.
- Histology — The microscopic study of tissue to identify cancer type and features.
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC) — A laboratory test that uses antibodies to detect specific proteins in tumour tissue.
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Medically reviewed by
Dr. Rehan Abdullah
Dr. Rehan Abdullah is a dual-trained clinical and radiation oncologist with over a decade of experience treating both solid tumours and hematologic malignancies. He serves as Consultant Oncologist at INMOL Hospital and sees patients at Farooq Hospital and Healthnox Medical Center, Lahore. Read full profile →
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