Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEndometriosis BiopsyEndometrial BiopsyLaparoscopySurgery NecessityBiopsy ResultsTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Endometriosis Biopsy
Endometrial Biopsy
Laparoscopy
Surgery Necessity
Biopsy Results
Treatment
Endometriosisis a condition in which tissue that is similar to the tissue that lines the uterus grows in areas outside of the uterus, typically in the abdomen and pelvis. Endometriosis is confirmed through a biopsy collected using a surgical procedure called alaparoscopy.
An endometriosis biopsy is different from anendometrialbiopsy. While an endometriosis biopsy is a surgical procedure to detect the presence of endometriosis tissue, an endometrial biopsy is a less-invasive procedure that examines endometrial tissue from inside the uterus to look for abnormalities in the endometrium.
This article will look at what endometrial biopsies and endometriosis biopsies are, what they test for, how they are performed, and what happens after them.
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Does Biopsy Diagnose Endometriosis?
The only way to confirm adiagnosis of endometriosisis through surgery, usually a surgery called a laparoscopy. In it, a small incision is made in the abdomen, and a tube with a camera and a light is inserted to examine inside the abdomen and pelvis.
During this procedure, a small sample of abnormal tissue can be removed to be analyzed (called a biopsy). It is usually performed under general anesthesia.
What Is an Endometrial Biopsy?
An endometrial biopsy is a procedure typically done in a healthcare provider’s office or as an outpatient procedure. It usually doesn’t require general anesthesia, Rather, local anesthesia is used to numb the area.
During an endometrial biopsy, a very thin, flexible tube is inserted into theuterusthrough the cervix. A small amount of endometrium is removed using suction.
The tissue sample is then examined under a microscope to check for things like abnormal cells.
Endometriosis vs. Endometrium
While they sound similar, endometriosis and endometrium are two different things.
Endometrium
The endometrium is the lining (mucous membranes) that covers the inner walls of the uterus. Each menstrual cycle, the endometrium thickens in preparation for the potential implantation of a fertilized egg. If implantation occurs, this lining provides the fertilized egg with everything it needs to grow and support a pregnancy.
If implantation does not occur, most of the thickened membrane tissue is shed through menstruation. The hormones estrogen and progesterone regulate the process of thickening and then shedding of the endometrium.
If no pregnancy occurs, a new thickened endometrium is grown with each menstrual cycle.
Endometriosis
With endometriosis, tissue that is similar to the endometrium grows in areas outside of the uterus, in locations such as:
Endometriosis tissue also responds to the hormonal signals of themenstrual cycle, causing it to thicken and break down. Unlike the endometrium, endometriosis tissue has nowhere to exit the body, so it can continue to build up. This can cause issues such as:
Reasons to Have an Endometrial Biopsy Test
An endometrial biopsy may be performed if there is:
Endometrial Biopsy vs. ColposcopyAcolposcopylooks for abnormal cervical tissue.In a colposcopy, you will lie down on an exam table. A speculum is then inserted into the vagina to separate the walls and allow the cervix to be seen.The cervix is washed with a vinegar-like solution that makes abnormal cells easier to see.Using a colposcope (an instrument that resembles binoculars on a stand with a bright light), the healthcare provider will take a closelook at the cervix. The colposcope does not touch you or go inside the vagina.The healthcare provider may do a biopsy. They may take tissue from the outside of the cervix to biopsy, from the inside of the cervix to biopsy, or both.
Endometrial Biopsy vs. Colposcopy
Acolposcopylooks for abnormal cervical tissue.In a colposcopy, you will lie down on an exam table. A speculum is then inserted into the vagina to separate the walls and allow the cervix to be seen.The cervix is washed with a vinegar-like solution that makes abnormal cells easier to see.Using a colposcope (an instrument that resembles binoculars on a stand with a bright light), the healthcare provider will take a closelook at the cervix. The colposcope does not touch you or go inside the vagina.The healthcare provider may do a biopsy. They may take tissue from the outside of the cervix to biopsy, from the inside of the cervix to biopsy, or both.
Acolposcopylooks for abnormal cervical tissue.In a colposcopy, you will lie down on an exam table. A speculum is then inserted into the vagina to separate the walls and allow the cervix to be seen.
The cervix is washed with a vinegar-like solution that makes abnormal cells easier to see.
Using a colposcope (an instrument that resembles binoculars on a stand with a bright light), the healthcare provider will take a closelook at the cervix. The colposcope does not touch you or go inside the vagina.
The healthcare provider may do a biopsy. They may take tissue from the outside of the cervix to biopsy, from the inside of the cervix to biopsy, or both.
Endometriosis Biopsy During Laparoscopy and Laparotomy
If endometriosis is suspected, a laparoscopy and biopsy may be performed to look for endometriosis andmake a diagnosis. It is usually an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia.
During a laparoscopy:
If a larger opening is needed, alaparotomywill be performed.
Surgeons Must Excise Endometriosis to Biopsy It
While less-invasive methods can be used to look for signs of endometriosis, the only way to definitively diagnose endometriosis is through surgery.
Results From Biopsy: Endometriosis vs. Endometrial
Endometriosis biopsies and endometrial biopsies produce different types of results.
Abnormal results from an endometriosis biopsy primarily show the presence of endometriosis tissue.
An endometrial biopsy checks for several abnormalities and other factors and can present a wider variety of abnormal results, including:
Treatment Plan After Biopsy: Endometriosis vs. Endometrial
Treatment options depend on the results of the biopsy.
If endometriosis is diagnosed, treatment options can include:
Endometrial
If a diagnosis ofendometrial canceris made, surgery is usually performed to remove the uterus, cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and sometimes lymph nodes and other tissue (to be tested).
During surgery, the cancer will be staged to determine if further treatment is needed. In more advanced cases, additional treatment, such as chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, may be needed.
Summary
The endometrium is the tissue that makes up the lining of the uterus. During the menstrual cycle, this tissue thickens in preparation for a possible pregnancy, then sheds during menstruation if pregnancy does not occur. The process is repeated each menstrual cycle.
Endometriosis is tissue that resembles and responds to hormones similarly to the endometrium but grows outside the uterus in areas such as the pelvic organs. Endometriosis tissue also thickens and breaks down during the menstrual cycle but builds up inside the body instead of being expelled.
An endometrial biopsy is typically done without the use of general anesthesia. A small amount of tissue is removed through the cervix and tested for abnormalities such as hormonal imbalances, endometrial hyperplasia, and endometrial cancer.
An endometriosis biopsy is performed under general anesthetic using surgery, typically a laparoscopy. A small tissue sample is removed through a small incision in the abdomen and tested primarily for endometriosis tissue.
Treatment for endometriosis can involve taking medications such as hormone therapy, removing endometriosis lesions with surgery, or removing the uterus and/or ovaries with surgery.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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