Biopsy
Basics
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Research
Resources
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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.
Diagnosis and Tests
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Breast Biopsy
(National Library of Medicine)
Also in Spanish
Specifics
- Bone Biopsy (Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
- Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Celiac Disease Diagnosis: Endoscopic Biopsy (University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center)
- Colposcopy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
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Kidney Biopsy
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
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Liver Biopsy
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Also in Spanish
- Needle Biopsy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Needle Biopsy of the Lung (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
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Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
(National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
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Skin Biopsy
(National Library of Medicine)
Also in Spanish
- Skin Biopsy (Logical Images)
- Ultrasound- and MRI-Guided Prostate Biopsy (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
- Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy of the Thyroid (Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Videos and Tutorials
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From Biopsy to Diagnosis
(College of American Pathologists)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
- American Cancer Society
-
National Cancer Institute
Also in Spanish
- RadiologyInfo (American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
Children
- Aspiration and Biopsy: Bone Marrow (Nemours Foundation)
- Biopsy (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Liver Biopsy (North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition) - PDF Also in Spanish
Teenagers
- Aspiration and Biopsy: Bone Marrow (Nemours Foundation)
- Skin Biopsy (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Biopsy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Bone marrow biopsy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Colposcopy - directed biopsy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Gastric tissue biopsy and culture (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Lung needle biopsy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish