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Biopsy is an invasive test that serves to analyze the health and integrity of various tissues in the body such as skin, lung, muscle, bone, liver, kidney or spleen. The purpose of the biopsy is to observe any change, such as changes in the shape and size of cells, being useful even to identify the presence of cancer cells and other health problems.
When the doctor requests a biopsy it is because there is a suspicion that the tissue has some alteration that cannot be seen in other tests, and therefore, it is necessary to perform the test promptly in order to diagnose the health problem to start the treatment as soon as possible.
What is it for
Biopsy is indicated when cell alterations are suspected, and is usually requested after blood or imaging tests. Thus, biopsy can be indicated when cancer is suspected or with the aim of evaluating the characteristics of a sign or mole present on the skin, for example.
In the case of infectious diseases, biopsy may be indicated to help identify the infectious agent responsible for the change, as well as be indicated in the case of autoimmune diseases to check for changes in internal organs or tissues.
Thus, according to the biopsy indication, it can be performed:
- Biopsy of the uterus, which serves to identify possible changes in the lining tissue of the uterus that may indicate abnormal growth of the endometrium, infections of the uterus or cancer, for example;
- Prostate biopsy, which serves to identify possible changes in the prostate;
- Liver biopsy, which is used to diagnose cancer or other liver injuries such as cirrhosis or hepatitis B and C;
- Bone marrow biopsy, which helps in the diagnosis and accompanies the evolution of diseases in the blood such as leukemia and lymphoma.
- Kidney biopsy, which is usually performed when there is protein or blood in the urine, helping to identify kidney problems.
In addition to these types, there is also a liquid biopsy, in which cancer cells are evaluated, which can be an alternative to the common biopsy that is made from the collection of a tissue sample.
The biopsy result can be negative or positive and the doctor can always ask for the test to be repeated in order to eliminate the hypothesis of false positive.
How it is done
In most cases, biopsies are performed under local anesthesia or with light sedation, and are generally a quick, painless procedure that does not require hospitalization. During this procedure the doctor will collect the material, which will later be analyzed in the laboratory.
In the case of internal biopsies, the procedure is usually guided by images, using techniques such as computed tomography, ultrasound or magnetic resonance, for example, which allow the observation of organs. In the following days, the location where the biopsy perforation was performed needs to be cleaned and disinfected according to the instructions given by the doctor, and in some cases it may be recommended to take antibiotics to aid in healing.