Explanation

A biopsy is a sample of some cells, or a small piece of tissue (often a bit of a lump), that doctors take to look at more closely using a microscope. A biopsy can be taken from almost anywhere in your body, like your skin for example, or your liver or lungs.

The word biopsy means both the sample itself, and the actual process of taking the sample.

Why do I need one?

When a part of your body isn't working properly, doctors sometimes decide to take a biopsy so that they can see what's going wrong. Then, different tests can be done on the sample without you having to be there! The tests can tell the doctors what's going wrong with that part of your body and why it isn't working properly. For example, chemical tests on a biopsy can tell your doctor if you have cystic fibrosis.

As well as cystic fibrosis, lots of other conditions can be diagnosed using a biopsy, like inflammation in your liver or kidneys. A biopsy can also tell the doctor how serious the inflammation is.

Biopsies are often important in helping your doctor make sure you don't have cancer. If you have a lump or swelling in part of your body or skin, the doctor can't tell if it is due to cancer just by looking at it or feeling it. So, he or she will take a biopsy of the lump and have a look at it under the microscope to make sure the cells in it are normal and not cancer cells.

What happens?

Biopsies are usually taken in outpatients, so you don't have to stay in hospital for very long. But, for some biopsies, like samples from your liver or kidneys, you will need a general anaesthetic and so will most probably have to stay in hospital overnight.

There are lots of different ways to take a biopsy, it just depends which part of your body the doctor needs a sample from. Some of the ones you are more likely to have include these:

A punch biopsy. Doctors use this to diagnose some skin conditions. A special instrument punches a small hole through the top layers of your skin to take a sample. The doctor will probably give you an injection of local anaesthetic or put some anaesthetic cream on before taking the sample, so that it doesn't hurt.

A needle biopsy. This uses a special long needle to take small samples from organs or lumps under your skin. The doctor might use an ultrasound or X-rays to show him or her EXACTLY where to put the needle in. You will have an injection of local anaesthetic beforehand so that it doesn't hurt.

An endoscopic biopsy. This is taken using endoscopy. You will have a local or general anaesthetic first, depending on where in your body the lump is and where the endoscope goes in. So, it might go down your throat to look at your lungs, for example.

An excision biopsy. Doctors take a whole lump to look at! You will have a local or general anaesthetic before having this, depending where the lump is.

There are some other types of biopsies as well as these. If you are having a biopsy, your doctor will tell you exactly what type you are having and will answer all of your questions about it.

Will it hurt?

Your doctor will give you a general anaesthetic or a local anaesthetic before you have a biopsy, so that you won't feel any pain. The type of anaesthetic you have depends on where in your body the biopsy is to be taken from. For example, if it is to be taken from your skin, you may have some local anaesthetic cream put over the area first.

What happens next?

If a cut was made in your body to take the biopsy, you might need a few stitches or have a dressing put on. If you had a biopsy taken from one of your organs, like your kidneys or liver, you will need to stay in hospital for a few hours or overnight to have a rest, and for the doctors to make sure that you are okay before letting you go home.

You probably won't have any pain afterwards, but if you have had the biopsy taken from an organ like your liver, you might feel an ache in that place. Your doctor will be able to give you some medicine to help you with this.

Your doctor will usually be given the results of your biopsy within a few days or a couple of weeks, depending on how urgent it is. He or she will then discuss the results with you.

What if I have any more questions?

If you have any other questions, you can ask your doctor, or chat to other people about having a biopsy in the Medikidz forums and virtual world, Mediland.