Biopsy Defined

Definition: A biopsy is the process of taking a sample of living tissue for examination. Many different types of tissue can be biopsied, including skin, bone, organs and other soft tissues.

If a biopsy is difficult to obtain, it can be taken using a CT scan to guide the physician taking the sample. They are also taken by a small pair of pinchers, used to grasp and tug a small amount of tissue free in order to remove it.

After the sample is taken, it is examined under a microscope by a pathologist, a physician specializing in tissue identification, to determine if the sample is healthy tissue or if it shows disease or abnormalities.

Pronunciation: buy-op-see

Also Known As: needle biopsy, guided biopsy, bone biopsy, tissue biopsy, skin biopsy, liver biopsy, prostate biopsy, kidney biopsy, lymph nodes biopsy, brain biopsy, tumor biopsy, brush biopsy, fine biopsy, tissue biopsy, bone marrow biopsy, percutaneous biopsy

Common Misspellings: byopsy, biopse, buyopse, buyopsy

Examples: The tumor was biopsied to determine if it was cancerous or if it was a benign growth.