What is a biopsy?
A biopsy is a medical procedure where doctors or surgeons remove a small amount of suspicious tissue from a patient's body to examine it closely under a microscope. This is done to determine if cancer or other diseases may be present. Cancer biopsy refers to removing tissue specifically to test for cancer.
Reasons for a cancer biopsy:
- Detecting cancer: If initial screening tests like a mammogram or physical exam finds an abnormality, a biopsy is required to confirm if it is cancerous or not.
- Diagnosing the type of cancer: Different types of cancers are treated differently. A biopsy determines the exact type of cancer like breast cancer, lung cancer etc. This helps decide the treatment plan.
- Staging of cancer: The stage or extent of spread of cancer also determines how aggressively it is treated. A biopsy provides information to stage the cancer.
- Monitoring treatment response: Cancer Biopsy may also be done periodically during or after treatment to check if the cancer is responding to therapy or has returned.
Types of biopsies
Depending on the location and size of the suspicious area, different types of biopsies may be used:
- Incisional biopsy: Only a part of the abnormal tissue is removed using a surgical scalpel. Commonly used for large tumors.
- Excisional biopsy: The entire suspicious area is surgically removed. Used if the area is small and easily accessible.
- Needle biopsy: A hollow needle is used to withdraw a small tissue sample without surgery. Two common types are core needle biopsy and fine needle aspiration.
Core needle biopsy
- A large hollow needle is used to extract one or more cylindrical tissue cores for examination. Guided by imaging like ultrasound or CT.
- Used for accessible lumps and masses in breast, thyroid, lungs or other organs that can be targeted precisely.
- Provides enough tissue for definite diagnosis in most cases. Leaves very small scars.
Fine needle aspiration biopsy
- Uses a very thin hollow needle attached to a syringe to withdraw fluid and cells.
- Only collects individual cells or small cell clusters for examination. Sometimes only cytology or cell examination can be done rather than histology or tissue examination.
- Best for superficial or deeply situated masses that cannot be reached through a small incision. Common for lymph nodes, thyroid lumps etc.
Procedure involved
The actual biopsy procedure depends on the type but generally involves:
- Discussing medical and family history with the doctor to plan the approach.
- Using imaging like ultrasound or mammogram to locate and guide the biopsy needle/instrument to the suspicious area.
- Applying local anesthesia to numb the area.
- Making a small incision or inserting the biopsy needle and taking tissue/cell samples.
- Applying pressure briefly to stop any bleeding and closing with stitches if an incision was made.
- Sending the biopsy samples immediately to the lab for histopathological or cytological examination.
- Follow up discussions to evaluate the report, confirm diagnosis and discuss next steps.
Risks and discomforts of cancer biopsy
While biopsy is a very common procedure, some potential risks may include:
- Bleeding or hematoma formation at the biopsy site requiring additional treatment. This is more likely with incisional biopsies.
- Infection, though the risk is extremely low with use of sterile technique. Antibiotics may sometimes be prescribed afterwards.
- Misdiagnosis is possible if the sampled tissue does not represent the entire lesion or tumor. Multiple samples reduce this risk.
- Injury or damage to surrounding organs during needle biopsies, though rare.
- Discomfort at the biopsy site for a few days. Needle biopsies typically cause less pain than surgical procedures.
Cancer biopsy plays a vital role in evaluating suspicious abnormalities, arriving at a definite diagnosis of cancer and determining the best treatment approach. While there are some small risks, modern biopsy techniques are minimally invasive and accurate in most cases. Getting a biopsy when advised by the healthcare team is important for cancer diagnosis and management.
For more details on the report, Read- https://www.marketwebjournal.com/cancer-biopsy-trends-size-and-share-analysis/
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