Biopsy is a method of removing part of a tissue or cell sample from a patient's body for a detailed review. When an initial test shows that part of the body tissue is not normal, your doctor will order a tissue biopsy. Doctors generally call this abnormal tissue a lesion, tumor, or mass. After the biopsy, the sample can be analyzed in the laboratory. Imaging tests such as X-rays are very useful in detecting abnormal masses or tissues in the body. But there is no difference between cancerous and non-cancerous tissues in this way. A biopsy is recommended for definitive diagnosis in most cancers. Biopsy is a low-risk, painless procedure.
What are the reasons for a biopsy?
Your doctor will usually order a biopsy of a part of your body when you have symptoms of cancer. It is true that a biopsy is usually done in patients with suspected cancer, but that does not necessarily mean that the person has cancer. For example, if a woman has masses in her breast that have been identified by imaging, it is a biopsy that determines if her problem is breast cancer or a non-cancerous disease such as polycystic fibrosis.