Biopsy a diagnostic tool to diagnose cancer and other disease

There has been always a mixed thought among the individuals and many of us thinks it as a dangerous mode of diagnosis which may actually aggravate the disease or may lead to rapid spread of the cancer, if it is present. the fact is biopsy is themost important, harmless and confirmatory method of diagnosis of many cancers and other diseases. here I have narrated the facts of biopsy and its use and preocedure in various diseases.

Biopsy for diagnosis of cancer

Biopsy is the term when asked to do, chills down the spine of an individual as one straightway imagine that he or she is suffering from cancer. But this is not always true. Biopsy is meant for investigation and is not always used to detect cancer but also the diseases like tuberculosis, infections and cancers too.

There is nothing more severe surgery during biopsy as in this procedure, a part of the ulcer or tumor is incised and sent for investigation. The detection of disease is done according to the cellular pattern of the tissue incised.

Biopsy is a painless procedure and can be done as an outpatient s procedure. There are myths that biopsy may lead to spread of cancer which is absolutely false. It creates no harm and neither it spreads cancer or any disease.

Some common biopsies

Here are the discription of some common biopsy encountered in the field of medicine to diagnose some important diseases.

Endometrial biopsy

Endometrial biopsy is done in a patient with irregular bleeding. The lining of the endometrium is taken and sent for examination. The process to take the sample may be by dilatation and currettage or hysteroscopy.

Dilatation and curettage is done under genral anaesthesia and the endometrial lining is take as a sample for investigation. Hysteroscopy is done by inserting a fibre-optic tube and taking the tissue in the presence of bright light.

Endometrial biopsy is done to diagnose dysfunctional uterine bleeding, endometrial cancer, endometritis and even any polyps.

Prostate biopsy

It is the most common investigation done for a man above 50 years of age and have history of hesitency, increased frequency and retention of urine. The biopsy is recommended if there is any doubt in the consistency or size of the prostate in digital rectal examination. The biopsy material is taken through rectal route by inserting a proctoscope. Though a prostate specific antigen is diagnostic for prostate cancer.

Liver biopsy

Liver biopsy is done to diagnose certain diseases like hepatitis, hepatoma or liver cancer and even it is a good diagnotic tool for cirrhosis of liver. The biopsy material is taken by inserting a needle between the lower two ribs that is 9th and 10th ribs under local anaesthesia and the liver tissue is taken out with the help of that needle for histological examination.

Skin biopsy

Biopsy of skin is most important diagnostic tool for skin diseases as this is the only confirmatory method to diagnose skin cancers. Most skin biopsies are done under local anaesthesia with an injection. A shave biopsy is good for diagnosisn basal cell carcinoma while a punch biopsy is good to diagnose squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma of skin.

Bone marrow biopsy

Bone marrow biopsy is done by insertin a needle in the iliac crest a bone near the hip joint. It is the region which is protuded at the hip. But in some case biopsy can also be taken from the sternum or breastbone. It is a painful process thus done under local anaesthesia. The bone marrow material is sucked by aspirating needle and examined. Bone marrow biopsy is helpful in diagnosing leukemias, lymphomas, kala azar and certain diseases related to blood.

Breast biopsy

Breast biopsy determines whether the lump of the breast is a benign or a malignant cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in females world wide and breast biopsy is most important diagnostic tool. In some cases where there is a family history or there is any doubt of malignancy, whole breast is excised and then sent for biopsy.

Bone biopsy

Bone biopsy is done to diagnose certain diseases like tuberculosis and cancer of the bones. It detrermines the type of cancer whether it is ewings carcinoma, osteosarcoma or soteoid osteoma.

A biopsy is taken either at the operation theatre or as the outpatients procedure and examined at the histopathological centre. Thus it is important the the viability or the microcellular structure of the material should remain intact till a slide is prepared and examined, Thus the material is kept directly in formalin solution to carry and it should be immediately sent to the laboratory for examination.