Biopsy Techniques Overview

Biopsy Techniques

• Biopsy is the removal of tissue from the body for examination.
• Purposes include: diagnosing diseases, assessing treatment effects, and studying tissue abnormalities.
• Types of biopsies:
  • Excisional biopsy: removes the entire suspicious lump, used for smaller lumps or when the entire mass is suspicious.
  • Incisional biopsy: removes only a portion of abnormal tissue, used when the mass is too large for complete removal.
    • Fine-needle aspiration (FNA): removes small tissue, fluid, or pieces from a tumor using a thin needle. Primarily used for cytology (study of cells). Local anesthetic may be used, but the procedure is generally not painful. A disadvantage is limited tissue architecture information
    • Core needle biopsy: obtains more tissue than FNA, allowing for histological examination. Provides better assessment of tissue architecture. More invasive than FNA, requiring local anesthetic.
    • Endoscopic biopsy: performed through a fiberoptic endoscope (a long, thin tube with a close-focusing telescope on the end). The endoscope is used to view the organ(s) to identify abnormal or suspicious areas. The procedure is named for the organ/body area being viewed. -Endometrial biopsy: a procedure used to obtain a sample of the uterine lining (endometrium) for examination. This involves a catheter inserted into the uterus to remove cells.
      • Skin biopsy (types):
        • Punch biopsy: involves taking a deeper sample of skin with a biopsy instrument that removes a short cylinder of tissue. The instrument is rotated on the skin surface until all layers are cut through.
        • Shaving biopsy: removes the top layers of skin by shaving it off.
    • Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: procedure to remove bone marrow, blood, and a small piece of bone. Locations include the sternum (breastbone), iliac crest, and the pelvis. The procedure involves applying local anesthetic and cleansing the skin.
    • Sentinel lymph node biopsy: a procedure to detect the spread of cancer (often melanoma) to lymph nodes. It involves injecting a radioactive tracer or dye near the tumor. Lymph nodes are then identified, and the nodes are removed for examination. This type of biopsy involves a removal procedure followed by microscopic analysis for cancer cells.