A tissue biopsy is a procedure for removing a small sample of abnormal cells so that they can be examined under a microscope for signs of disease. Depending on the condition being investigated and the location of the tissue in question, a biopsy may be obtained via a needle, endoscopic procedure, punch device, scalpel, or (in the case of a bone marrow biopsy) a longer type of needle. Needle biopsies can encompass a variety of procedures, including cone or core needle biopsies, fine needle biopsies, image-guided biopsies and vacuum-assisted biopsies. These procedures are nearly always performed on an outpatient basis. Some biopsies will entail the removal of a suspicious polyp, lump or nodule in its entirety as a preventive or therapeutic measure. For more information on specific biopsy procedures, please see “breast biopsy,” “ultrasound-guided biopsy,” “gynecologic biopsy,” “bone marrow aspiration and biopsy,” “kidney biopsy,” “prostate biopsy,” “sentinel lymph node biopsy,” “testicular biopsy,” and “thyroid biopsy.”
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