Biopsy

Summary

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.

Encyclopedia

• Abdominal wall fat pad biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Biopsy – biliary tract Medical Encyclopedia
• Bladder biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Bone lesion biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Breast biopsy – ultrasound Medical Encyclopedia
• Breast biopsy — stereotactic Medical Encyclopedia
• Carpal tunnel biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Cold knife cone biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Culture – duodenal tissue Medical Encyclopedia
• Endometrial biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Gram stain of tissue biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Gum biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Kidney biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Liver biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Lymph node biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Mediastinoscopy with biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Muscle biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Nasal mucosal biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Nerve biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Open lung biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Open pleural biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Oropharynx lesion biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Pleural needle biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Polyp biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Rectal biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Salivary gland biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Skin lesion biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Synovial biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Testicular biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Tongue biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Upper airway biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Ureteral retrograde brush biopsy Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• American Cancer Society American Cancer Society
• National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
• RadiologyInfo Radiological Society of North America

Children

• Biopsies (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Liver Biopsy North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition

Start Here

• Biopsies – Overview Radiological Society of North America
• Biopsy: Types of Biopsy Procedures Used to Diagnose Cancer Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Testing Biopsy and Cytology Specimens for Cancer American Cancer Society

Patient Handouts

• Biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Bone marrow biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Colposcopy – directed biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Gastric tissue biopsy and culture Medical Encyclopedia
• Lung needle biopsy Medical Encyclopedia

Specifics

• Bone Biopsy Radiological Society of North America
• Bone Marrow Test National Library of Medicine
• Breast Biopsy National Library of Medicine
• Colposcopy National Library of Medicine
• Kidney Biopsy National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Liver Biopsy National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Needle Biopsy Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Needle Biopsy of the Lung Radiological Society of North America
• Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy National Cancer Institute
• Skin Biopsy VisualDX
• Skin Biopsy National Library of Medicine
• Ultrasound- and MRI-Guided Prostate Biopsy Radiological Society of North America
• Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy of the Thyroid Radiological Society of North America

Videos and Tutorials

• From Biopsy to Diagnosis College of American Pathologists

Journal Articles

• Biopsy