Things to Know About a Biopsy Test

A biopsy is when a sample of tissue collected from the body to check it more closely. Often, doctors recommend this process when an initial test shows that a part of the tissue in the body is not normal. This close inspection can help pathologists to determine if the tissue sample is normal, a part of the cancerous (malignant) tumor or a non-cancerous (benign) tumor. A biopsy can also be used to detect the causes of infection and inflammation in a certain body part. Many pathology labs provide biopsy test procedures at reasonable costs.

Why are biopsies done?

This medical procedure is often done to detect cancer. However, it can also help to diagnose several other health conditions and diseases. The process might be prescribed by the doctor in various cases.

Here are a few health conditions where a biopsy test can play a major role:

Peptic ulcer

This medical process can aid a doctor to detect ulcers caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Infection

A needle biopsy can be used to check infectivity and its causes.

Diagnosis of liver disease

A biopsy helps a doctor to detect cancer or tumors in the liver. Also, it can be used to detect liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Inflammation

The procedure can also help the doctor to determine the exact cause of inflammation in a certain body organ.

Also, biopsies can be done on transplanted organs to find out whether the body is declining the organ.

Types of biopsies

There are several kinds of biopsies done for different purposes. Mostly, they involve using a sharp object to remove a small tissue sample. These types include:

Needle biopsy

This type is used on tumours that a doctor can find out through the skin, such as enlarged lymph nodes and suspicious breast lumps. When combined with an imaging test like X-ray, needle biopsy can help to accumulate cells from a suspicious part that cannot be noticed through the skin.

Bone marrow biopsy

In case a doctor suspects that a patient has some issues with their blood, he will ask him to get a bone marrow biopsy done. This procedure can detect both cancerous and noncancerous conditions such as infection, anemia, lymphoma, and leukaemia. The bone marrow test can also be used to detect if cancer cells from other areas of the body have reached the bones.

Endoscopic biopsy

This biopsy type is done to reach tissue and cells inside the body to collect samples from body parts including lung, colon, and bladder. The endoscope, a flexible thin tube can be inserted through a small incision in the body, or through the mouth, rectum, nose, or urethra.

Surgical biopsy

This biopsy procedure can be used to eradicate part of an unusual area of cells through incision. Either a certain portion of tissue or the entire lump of tissue may be removed through surgical biopsy.

In some certain biopsy types such as bone marrow biopsy, the doctor prescribes the patient to go through a blood count test to ensure he or she is healthy enough for the procedure.

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Aishakapoor Joined: November 1st, 2019