Global Immuno-Oncology & Biomarkers Summit

Cancer Biopsy

Biopsy is the removal of small amount of tissue or sample of cells from your body for examination under a microscope. Other diagnostic techniques can suggest that cancer is present, but only a biopsy can make a definite diagnosis. The removal of entire lump or suspicious area is called an excisional biopsy. A larger needle with a cutting tip is used to draw a column of tissue out of a suspicious area is called core needle biopsy. In Vacuum-assisted biopsy, the suction device is used to collect the sample which increases the amount of fluid and cell that is extracted through the needle.

Endoscopic biopsy is most often used in gastric cancers to remove the tissues for examination. The removal of small amount of solid tissue from a bone marrow using a needle is called bone marrow biopsy. This method is used to find out if a person has a blood cancer. Blood cancers include leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma. The combination of an imaging procedure such as X-ray, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound with a needle biopsy is known as Image-guided biopsy.