| lumbar puncture needle | A needle, provided with a stylet, for entering the spinal canal or cisterna magna, with a bore of at least 1 mm and 40 mm or more in length. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| abdominal wall fat pad biopsy | <investigation, procedure, surgery> The removal of a small specimen of the abdominal wall fat pad for microscopic examination. Often used in the diagnosis of amyloidosis. Performed with a local anaesthetic. (25 Jun 1999) |
| aspiration biopsy | Removal of a sample of tissue from the breast using a wide-core needle with suction. (09 Oct 1997) |
| biopsy | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A biopsy refers to a procedure that involves obtaining a tissue specimen for microscopic analysis to establish a precise diagnosis. Biopsies can be accomplished with a biopsy needle (passed through the skin into the organ in question) or by open surgical incision. See: abdominal wall fat pad biopsy, endometrial biopsy, heart biopsy, muscle biopsy, needle biopsy, nerve biopsy, open lung biopsy, pleural needle biopsy, salivary gland biopsy. (07 Apr 1998) |
| biopsy, endometrial | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A procedure by which a sample is taken of the endometrial lining of the uterus. This may be performed with or without an anaesthetic. Risks include bleeding after the procedure. This test is usually performed in the evaluation of abnormal menses, heavy menstruation or post-menopausal bleeding. It may be part of an infertility evaluation. Endometrial biopsy can reveal uterine cancer, uterine fibroids, uterine polyps and adenomyosis. Often performed in those with endometriosis as part of the evaluation. (21 Mar 1998) |
| biopsy, heart | <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) |
| biopsy, muscle | <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) |
| biopsy, myocardial | <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) |
| biopsy, nerve | <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) |
| biopsy, open lung | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A procedure which involves the removal of a small specimen of lung tissue for microscopic analysis via a surgical incision in the chest wall. This test can be used to identify a variety of lung cancers, lung infections and lung diseases. (21 Mar 1998) |
| biopsy, salivary gland | <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) |
| bone marrow biopsy | <procedure> A test involving the insertion of a thin needle into the breastbone or more commonly, the hip, in order to aspirate a sample of the marrow. A small piece of cortical bone may also be obtained for biopsy. Anaemia of unknown cause is often investigated using this test. (27 Sep 1997) |
| bone marrow biopsy and aspiration | <procedure> A procedure in which a needle is inserted into the centre of a bone, usually the hip, to remove a small amount of bone marrow for microscopic examination. (09 Oct 1997) |
| brush biopsy | Biopsy obtained by passing a bristled catheter into the ureter or pyelocalyceal system to remove cells from suspected areas of disease by entrapping them in the bristles. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chorionic villus biopsy | Transcervical or transabdominal sampling of the chorionic villi for genetic analysis. (05 Mar 2000) |