Biopsy
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Advanced Diagnostics: Biopsy
We perform biopsies to determine if cancer is present and, if so, the type and grade of the disease. A biopsy involves the removal of a sample of tissue or fluid for examination under a microscopic by a pathologist. Some biopsies are performed under image guidance, such as an ultrasound or CT scan.
Compared to other diagnostic tests for cancer, biopsies often provide a more definitive diagnosis. A biopsy can help determine whether the cancer began at the site of the biopsy sample, or if it started somewhere else in the body and spread to the site of the biopsy sample.
Types of Biopsies
Some common types of biopsy procedures include:
- Incisional biopsy – removal of a sample of tissue from a tumor
- Excisional biopsy – removal of an entire tumor or lesion
- Core needle biopsy – removal of a small cylinder of tissue from a tumor with a hollow needle
- Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy – removal of a small amount of tissue or fluid from a tumor with a very thin needle attached to a syringe
Some sites that are commonly biopsied include the breast, skin, bone marrow, GI tract, lung, liver, bladder, colon, and lymph nodes. Our cancer doctors determine the most appropriate method of biopsy based on several factors, such as the size, shape, location, and characteristics of the abnormality.
Browse Diagnostic Tools by Name
A
- Angioplasty
- Arteriography
- Autofluorescence Bronchoscopy
B
- Biopsy
Also see Bone Marrow Aspiration & Biopsy, Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy - Blood Tests
Also see Complete Blood Count (CBC) Test - Bone Marrow Aspiration & Biopsy
- Bone Scan
Also see Sodium Fluoride PET/CT Bone Scan - Bronchoscopy
Also see Autofluorescence Bronchoscopy, Navigational Bronchoscopy
C
- CAD for Mammography
- CBC Test
- CellSearch™ CTC Test
- Chemotherapy Resistance Testing
- Chemoresistance (see Chemotherapy Resistance Testing)
- Chest X-Ray
- Cholangioscopy
Also see ERCP - Colonoscopy
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) Test
- Computed Tomography (CT) Scan
Also see GE 16-Slice CT Scanner, Multidetector CT Scanner, Spiral CT - Computer-Aided Detection (CAD) Mammography
- CT Angiography
- CT Bone Density
- CT Fluoroscopy
- CT-Guided Biopsy
D
- Diagnostic/Staging Surgery
- Discovery™ PET/CT 600 Scanner
E
- Echocardiogram
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
- Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS)
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)
- Endoscopy
Also see Colonoscopy, Video Capsule Endoscopy - Enteroscopy
- Extreme Drug Resistance (see Chemotherapy Resistance Testing)
F
- Fine Needle Aspiration
- Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
- Flow Cytometry
- Fluorescence Bronchoscopy (see Autofluorescence Bronchoscopy)
- Full-Field Digital Mammography
I
- Interventional Angiography
- Interventional Radiology
- Intraoperative Ultrasound
L
- Large Bore CT/RT with Simulation
- LightSpeed RT
- Liver Function Tests
- Lumbar Puncture
- Lumpectomy
- Lung Capacity Studies
- Lung Nodule Analysis
- Lymph Node Biopsy
M
N
P
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan
- PET/CT Scan
Also see Discovery™ PET/CT 600 Scanner - Pleuroscopy
- Prostascint® Scan
- Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)
R
- Radiograph
S
- Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
- Siemens ACUSON S2000
- Siemens Multi-Modality Workstation
- Sodium Fluoride PET/CT Bone Scan
- SPECT/CT Camera
- Spiral CT
- SpyGlass™
T
- 3D CT Angiography
- Thoracentesis
- Tumor Markers
- Tumor Molecular Profiling
U
- Ultrasound
Also see Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) - Upper Endoscopy
- Urine Tests
V
- Video Capsule Endoscopy
- Venography
