| muscle biopsy | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A procedure which involves the removal of a small specimen of muscle tissue for microscopic analysis. A muscle biopsy is used to distinguish between neurological and myopathic (muscle disease) disorders, identify muscular dystrophy, diagnose muscle infections and identify connective tissue disorders (necrotising vasculitis). (21 Mar 1998) |
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| core biopsy | Removal (with a large needle) of a piece of a lump. The piece is sent to the lab to see if the lump is benign or malignant. (09 Oct 1997) |
| myocardial biopsy | <procedure> A procedure which involves the removal of a small specimen of cardiac muscle tissue for microscopic analysis. This is generally performed at the same time as a cardiac catheterisation or as a very similar, yet separate, procedure. A small piece of heart tissue is taken via a small forceps inserted into the cardiac catheter site (usually threaded through a vein in the neck). This test may reveal the cause of a cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, amyloidosis or a heart transplant rejection. (27 Sep 1997) |
| cup biopsy forceps | A slender flexible forceps with movable cup-shaped jaws, used to obtain biopsy specimens by introduction through a specially designed endoscope. (05 Mar 2000) |
| heart biopsy | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A procedure which involves the removal of a small specimen of cardiac muscle tissue for microscopic analysis. This is generally performed at the same time as a cardiac catheterisation or as a very similar, yet separate, procedure. A small piece of heart tissue is taken via a small forceps inserted into the cardiac catheter site (usually threaded through a vein in the neck). This test may reveal the cause of a cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, amyloidosis or a heart transplant rejection. (21 Mar 1998) |
| salivary gland biopsy | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A procedure which involves the removal of a small specimen of salivary gland tissue for microscopic analysis. Used in the diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome. Risks include localised bleeding, infection and injury to the facial nerve. (21 Mar 1998) |
| punch biopsy | A punch is an instrument for cutting and removing a disk of tissue. A punch biopsy of the skin may for example be done to make the diagnosis of a malignancy. (12 Dec 1998) |
| shave biopsy | A biopsy technique performed with a surgical blade or a razor blade; used for lesions that are elevated above the skin level or confined to the epidermis and upper dermis, or to protrusions of lesions from internal sites. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sponge biopsy | Abrasion of a lesion with a suitable sponge. (05 Mar 2000) |
| needle biopsy | Removal of a sample of tissue from the breast using a wide-core needle with suction. (09 Oct 1997) |
| stereotactic needle biopsy | Biopsy done while breast is compressed under mammography. A series of pictures locate the lesion, and a radiologist enters information into a computer. The computer calculates information and positions a needle to remove the finding. A needle is inserted into the lump, and a piece of tissue is removed and sent to the lab for analysis. May be referred to as mammotest or core biopsy. (09 Oct 1997) |
| nerve biopsy | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A procedure which involves the removal of a small specimen of nerve tissue for microscopic analysis. The ankle or wrist are the most common sites used for nerve biopsy. Conditions such as amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, metabolic polyneuropathy, leprosy, demyelination, alcoholic neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-tooth disease, peroneal nerve dysfunction, mononeuritis multiplex and other polyneuropathies may be detected using this study. (21 Mar 1998) |
| incisional biopsy | A surgical incision made through the skin to remove a portion of a suspected lump or tissue. (09 Oct 1997) |
| incision biopsy | Removal of only a part of a lesion by incising into it. (05 Mar 2000) |
| open biopsy | <surgery> Surgical incision or excision of the region from which the biopsy is taken. (05 Mar 2000) |