What is a Biopsy?
A biopsy is a sample of tissue from a
living organism which is used as a diagnostic tool. Biopsies are carried out to
identify various diseases, or to eliminate certain causes for symptoms. There
are a number of ways in which a doctor can collect a biopsy, and an assortment of techniques can be
used to analyze the resulting sample. If you have been scheduled for a biopsy, you may want to talk to your doctor
about the specific technique which will be used to collect the sample.
When a patient complains of a medical problem, a doctor uses an assortment of techniques to diagnose the problem. Most doctors try to start with non-invasive procedures before they turn to taking tissue samples. A biopsy may be needed when other diagnostic tools reveal no obvious problem, or when a scan of the patient's body shows that there is an area of irregularity which may require a closer look.
When a patient complains of a medical problem, a doctor uses an assortment of techniques to diagnose the problem. Most doctors try to start with non-invasive procedures before they turn to taking tissue samples. A biopsy may be needed when other diagnostic tools reveal no obvious problem, or when a scan of the patient's body shows that there is an area of irregularity which may require a closer look.
.jpg)