Patient Education: Diseases Conditions Treatments & Procedures

Biopsy

Introduction

A procedure in which a doctor removes a small amount of cells or tissue for examination. The cells or tissue are examined under a microscope by a pathologist. Biopsies help doctors to diagnose many diseases, especially cancer. In some cases, biopsies help to determine the severity or stage of a disease and appropriate treatment. Doctors use different biopsy techniques depending on which tissue or organ needs to be studied. A needle biopsy is a common type of biopsy.