Biopsy type list

Types of Biopsy

Needle biopsy—cells are removed using a thin needle
Aspiration biopsy—cells are drawn out with a hollow needle that uses suction
Core needle biopsy—a sample of tissue is removed using a hollow  needle that has a special cutting edge
Vacuum-assisted biopsy—a number of samples of tissue are taken using a special rotating probe device
Endoscopic biopsy—abnormality is viewed with a long, thin tube that has a lighted camera on one end (called an endoscope); a tool is passed through the tube to take the biopsy sample
Incisional biopsy—a portion of a mass is removed by cutting it out
Excisional biopsy—a mass is completely removed (eg, breast lump)
Punch biopsy—a core of skin is removed with a special biopsy tool
Skin biopsy—a small piece of skin is cut off with a scalpel
Shave biopsy—top layers of skin are shaved off with a special blade
Bone marrow biopsy—a long needle is inserted into the bone marrow to collect cells 

Different type of biopsy procedure

What are the different types of biopsy procedures? 

Excisional Biopsy

A whole organ or a whole lump is removed (excised). These are less common now, since the development of fine needle aspiration (see below). Some types of tumors (such as lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphocyte blood cells) have to be examined whole to allow an accurate diagnosis, so enlarged lymph nodes are good candidates for excisional biopsies. Some surgeons prefer excisional biopsies of most breast lumps to ensure the greatest diagnostic accuracy. Some organs, such as the spleen, are dangerous to cut into without removing the whole organ, so excisional biopsies are preferred for these.

What is a Biopsy?

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.

Understan Biopsy procedure

What Happens During a Biopsy Procedure?

A biopsy procedure is used to remove suspicious material for examination. For people who have not had a biopsy before, it can be a bit alarming to hear that one has been requested. Knowing the details of what to expect can make people feel more prepared, allowing them to relax for the procedure so that it will go smoothly. In all cases, biopsy results should be discussed with a doctor to ensure that the patient knows what the results mean and what sort of response should be taken.

Before a biopsy procedure takes place, a doctor must determine that the patient needs one. A physical examination may reveal an area of concern, such as a patch of skin which has changed color, or a lump in the soft tissue. A biopsy may also be requested if a medical imaging study reveals an irregularity, or if a biopsy would assist a doctor in arriving at a diagnosis.

The first step in a biopsy procedure is preparation of the site and the patient. The site is typically swabbed and washed so that it is sterile, and in areas where there is hair, the site may be shaved. Next, a local anesthetic is injected so that the patient will not experience pain. In some cases, the patient may be offered antianxiety medication to relax for the biopsy. For certain biopsies, the patient may be put under a general anesthetic.

In biopsies where the patient is anesthetized, anesthesia is used for the purpose of a surgical biopsy, in which a doctor cuts into the body to remove a sample from the area of interest. This technique is less common with the advent of several types of needle biopsy, ranging from fine needle aspiration to vacuum-assisted biopsy, in which a large needle is inserted into the area of interest and used to remove a sample from a conscious patient. If the area being biopsied is on the skin, a scalpel will be used to scrape off a sample.

The biopsy may be taken with the assistance of medical imaging such as ultrasound. The medical imaging is used to correctly identify the area of interest so that the sample is taken from the right place. In a wire-guided biopsy, the imaging is used while fine wires are placed to mark the area which needs to be biopsied, and a surgeon uses the wires as a guide for a surgical biopsy. Some procedures may require the use of endoscopic probes which are inserted into the body to generate an image, allowing the doctor to clearly see the site which needs to be biopsied.

If the patient is conscious, he or she will need to hold very still during the biopsy procedure, and it may be necessary to assume a particular position. The biopsy should not be painful, because of the local anesthetic, but it can be uncomfortable. Especially in cases where probes are used, discomfort is common for conscious patients, as for example in an endoscopic biopsy of the esophagus.