Taking tissue samples to determine the underlying cause of abnormal structures developing in the body is called biopsy. The sample taken by biopsy is sent to the laboratory for examination under a microscope.
Why and How is Biopsy Performed?
Physicians may apply for biopsy to clarify the underlying condition in the presence of various symptoms and abnormal physical examination findings in their patients. In addition to radiological imaging methods in the detection of formations such as cancer, biopsy is performed to examine the cells that make up the tumor tissue.
The biopsy procedure is the most important method for the definitive diagnosis of structures formed by cells that divide uncontrollably, such as cancer. Although there is a clear relationship between the biopsy procedure and cancer, this does not mean that the result of the biopsy procedure always results in cancer.
Although the biopsy procedure may sound scary, it is actually a painless and low-risk procedure. The duration of the biopsy may vary depending on which tissue or organ will be sampled or which technique is used for the biopsy procedure.
Before the biopsy is performed, the relevant physician explains the practices such as bowel cleansing, only liquid consumption or not eating food for the preparation process for the biopsy. At the same time, it is important for the preparation stage for the biopsy that the person to be biopsied should inform his doctor about the drugs he uses and other medical conditions. Imaging methods such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (USG) are imaging methods that allow the detection of the area where the biopsy will be performed. Endoscopy, another imaging method, is used in cases where the biopsy will be performed to take samples from tissues such as stomach, intestine or lung. After biopsy procedure The sample area should be properly covered in order to prevent the development of infection. In case of taking samples from tissues such as prostate gland, it is aimed to prevent the development of infection after the biopsy, thanks to the antibiotics prescribed by the physician. >
What are the Biopsy Types?
The main difference in the formation of the types of biopsy procedure varies according to how much of the tissue is taken for further examinations. Removal of only part of the tissue or organ is called incisional biopsy, while removal of the entire tissue or organ for further examination is referred to as excisional biopsy.
How much tissue to be removed depends on how much of the organ or tissue the abnormality is in. Needle biopsy is usually the preferred method when a small tissue sample is required. It is called fine needle biopsy or thick needle biopsy according to the thickness of the needle used in this biopsy procedure.
In addition to these closed biopsy procedures, open biopsy in which the sample area is opened and tissue is removed with surgical interventions is among the biopsy types.
Depending on the suspected disease, biopsy can be performed from the skin, tissue or organs using various methods:
Bone Marrow Biopsy
Situations in which various abnormalities are detected in blood values, a malignant disease originating from the bone marrow can be performed. may raise suspicion of the presence of the disease. In order to eliminate this doubt, it may be considered to take a sample from the bone marrow by biopsy.Bone marrow located in large bones has a spongy structure. In this structure, cells with important functions such as body defense and oxygen transport are produced. Thanks to the biopsy procedure to be performed from this region, the presence of leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma or cancers that have formed in other regions and spread to the bone marrow (metastasis) is examined.
Bone marrow biopsy gene It is a procedure that is done with the help of a long needle, usually from the hip bone. Before the procedure, local anesthetics provide a regional numbness and control the pain that will occur until the needle reaches the bone marrow. Due to the inability to numb the internal structure of the bones with anesthetics, a blunt pain sensation may occur during the procedure.
Endoscopic Biopsy
Endoscopic biopsy is the type of biopsy procedure used in cases where tissue sample is required to be taken from the lungs, bladder or intestines. Endoscopes, which have a thin tube structure with a camera on the tip and various surgical tools for performing the biopsy, allow both the biopsy process to be performed and the simultaneous image acquisition. It can also be applied from the urethra (cystoscopy). The biopsy procedure performed by endoscopy is usually completed within 5-20 minutes.Needle Biopsy
Needle biopsy is a type of biopsy that is generally applied to take samples from the skin or the tissues just under the skin. The needle used for this process can be chosen as thick or thin. At the same time, imaging methods such as ultrasonography are used during needle biopsy, which aims to take tissue samples from internal organs such as lung, prostate or liver. .Needle biopsy is used in the biopsy procedure performed to take a sample from the breast tissue. Although breast biopsy is generally a well-tolerated procedure, changes in the skin that can be considered simple such as bruising or hematoma (blood collection) may occur. Apart from these situations, undesirable conditions such as pneumothorax (lung collapse) and pneumohemothorax (stopping of ventilation due to blood flow to the lungs) may occur, although rare.
Skin Biopsy
If the suspicious changes on the skin do not respond to the current treatment applied, a biopsy may be required by the relevant physician. Skin biopsy is an important procedure that enables the detection of melanoma and other skin cancers. impregnate. Skin biopsy is divided into many sub-types in itself.Among skin biopsy techniques, shave biopsy is one of the easiest techniques to perform. With the help of a sharp instrument such as a scalpel (scalpel), tissue sample can be obtained from the skin at the desired thickness. In the method called punch biopsy, samples are taken from deeper tissues of the skin with the help of a cylindrical blade. Punch and shave biopsy are examples of incisional biopsy because only a portion of the suspected tissue is removed.
The biopsy procedure on the skin can also be performed excisionally. In small lesions or in the presence of malignant skin formations such as melanoma, if appropriate conditions exist, that tissue can be completely removed and sent to the laboratory for examination. . The physician who performs the surgical biopsy procedure aims to reach the suspicious area by making a small incision in the skin.
Surgical biopsy may be preferred for the removal of masses formed in the breast tissue or lymph nodes. During the surgical biopsy, local anesthetic drugs can be used to control the feeling of pain during the procedure. Some surgical biopsy procedures are performed under general anesthesia, where the person is completely asleep.
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