| 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) |
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| 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) |
| 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) |
| open lung biopsy | <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) |
| testicular biopsy | <procedure> The removal of a fragment of a testicle for examination under the microscope. (13 Jan 1998) |
| trans-bronchial biopsy | <chest medicine, procedure> A biopsy that is performed through the wall of the bronchus (using the bronchoscope). This involves obtaining a small piece of lung tissue for microscopic analysis. This is a useful alternative to an open surgical biopsy, where an incision must be made. (17 Mar 1998) |
| endometrial biopsy | <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) |
| endoscopic biopsy | Biopsy obtained by instruments passed through an endoscope or obtained by a needle introduced under endoscopic guidance. (05 Mar 2000) |
| trephine biopsy | <haematology, procedure> Removal of a small core of bone marrow under local anaesthetic. It is used to assess bone marrow structure, the number and distribution of all the blood cell types. (19 Jan 1998) |