Biopsy

A biopsy is a medical procedure that involves taking a small sample of tissue so that it can be examined under a microscope.

The term ‘biopsy’ is often used to refer to the act of taking the sample and the tissue sample itself.

Types of biopsy

A tissue sample can be taken from almost anywhere on (or in) your body, such as your skin, stomach, kidneys, liver, and lungs.

A number of different types of biopsy can be used to help identify a wide range of different health conditions. Types of biopsy include:

• scraping cells - removing cells from the surface layer of tissue, such as from the inside of the mouth, or from inside the cervix (neck of the womb),
• a punch biopsy - for diagnosing skin conditions,
• a needle biopsy - for obtaining tissue from the body’s organs, or from tissue underneath the skin,
• an endoscopic biopsy - where a medical instrument known as an endoscope is used to take a tissue sample,
• a capsule biopsy - used when a sample from the intestine lining needs to be taken, and
• an excisional biopsy - where surgery is used to take a larger section of tissue.

How the biopsy is carried out will depend on where the tissue sample is being taken from. See ‘how it is performed’ for further information about the different types of biopsy and how they are performed.

What is a biopsy used for?

Biopsies are used to identify abnormal cells. The result of a biopsy can often help healthcare professionals to diagnose a wide range of conditions including:

• cancer,
• peptic ulcers (ulcers that affect the digestive system),
• hepatitis (inflammation of the liver),
• kidney disease, and
• endometriosis (where cells that usually line the womb are found elsewhere in the body).

Biopsies are commonly used to check whether a breast lump is benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

After the tissue sample has been taken, the cells will be closely examined under a microscope to see whether or not they appear abnormal, and to check for any unusual cell activity. The cells may also be tested using various chemicals to see how they respond. The type of tests that are used will depend on the medical conditions that are being investigated.