Biopsy
A biopsy removes cells or tissue from a living body for examination. It is used chiefly to diagnose disease by analyzing the sampled material.
Histopathology: The microscopic examination of tissue to identify disease-related changes. Biopsy tissue is commonly assessed by examining its structure under a microscope.
Cancer diagnosis: The process of determining whether cancer is present and identifying its type and extent. A tissue sample can establish whether a suspicious growth is malignant.
Pathology: The medical specialty that studies disease through laboratory analysis of tissues, cells, and bodily fluids. Pathologists interpret biopsy specimens and integrate microscopic findings with clinical information.
Diagnostic imaging: Medical techniques that create images of internal structures to detect or characterize abnormalities. Imaging can locate and assess lesions, but often cannot confirm their cellular identity.
Fine-needle aspiration: A sampling procedure that uses a thin needle to withdraw cells or fluid from a lump or organ. This minimally invasive approach gathers cells rather than an intact tissue core.
Bone marrow examination: Testing bone marrow samples to assess blood-cell production and detect disorders. Marrow biopsy samples help diagnose leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood diseases.
Cytology: The study of cells, including their structure and changes associated with disease. Some biopsies provide individual cells for diagnosis rather than intact tissue.
Blood test: A laboratory analysis of blood used to measure cells, chemicals, proteins, or other markers. Blood tests can indicate disease without directly sampling the affected tissue.
Core needle biopsy: A procedure that uses a hollow cutting needle to remove narrow cylinders of tissue. It preserves tissue architecture, providing more structural detail than cell-only sampling.
Liver biopsy: A procedure that removes a small liver sample for microscopic and laboratory analysis. It can clarify the cause and severity of liver inflammation or scarring.