| Emmet's needle | <instrument, surgery> A strong needle with the eye in the point, having a wide curve, and set in a handle, used to pass a ligature around an undissected structure. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| Tuohy needle | A needle with a lateral opening at the distal end, designed to cause a catheter passing through the needle's lumen to exit laterally at a 45 |
| exploring needle | A strong needle with a longitudinal groove, which is thrust into a tumour or cavity to determine the presence of fluid, the latter escaping externally along the groove. (05 Mar 2000) |
| knife needle | A very narrow, needle-pointed knife used in discission of a cataract. Synonym: cataract needle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fine needle aspiration | Procedure to remove cells or fluid from tissues using a needle with an empty syringe. Cells or breast fluid is extracted by pulling back on plunger and then is analysed by a physician. (09 Oct 1997) |
| Francke's needle | A small lancet-shaped spring-activated needle, used to evacuate a small effusion of blood. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Frazier's needle | A needle for draining lateral ventricles of brain. (05 Mar 2000) |
| 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) |
| 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) |