Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat is a Biopsy?TypesPainRecoveryResultsNext Steps
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What is a Biopsy?
Types
Pain
Recovery
Results
Next Steps
When a healthcare provider performs a biopsy, they send the tissue sample to a laboratory for a specially trained healthcare provider (apathologist) to examine it under a microscope. Your healthcare provider uses the biopsy results to determine the best treatment options.
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Your Provider Ordered a Biopsy: What Does It Mean?
Healthcare providers order biopsies when they suspect the presence of a specific disease and want to look at a tissue sample for clues to support their possible diagnosis. They can perform many biopsies as same-day, outpatient procedures.
After the healthcare provider collects the tissue sample, they send it to a laboratory where a pathologist will examine the biopsy under a microscope.The pathologist details the microscopic findings in a pathology report to share with the ordering provider. Your healthcare providers can use the information contained in the pathology report to determine the best treatment options for any tissue disease or abnormalities they identify.
There are various reasons a healthcare provider will order a biopsy, including:
How Different Types of Biopsies Work
Almost any organ can be biopsied. Most biopsies can be performed in an outpatient setting, such as a provider’s office or another procedure location, and you can go home the same day. There are different methods for performing a biopsy:
Are Biopsies for Cancer Only?Almost any organ can be biopsied, and biopsies are performed for diseases other than cancer:Bone biopsies look for signs of infection, such as osteomyelitis.A liver biopsy can help diagnose a liver infection, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis.Muscle and nerve biopsies can diagnose muscle or nerve diseases, such as muscular dystrophy.Testicular biopsies can determine possible causes of male infertility.
Are Biopsies for Cancer Only?
Almost any organ can be biopsied, and biopsies are performed for diseases other than cancer:Bone biopsies look for signs of infection, such as osteomyelitis.A liver biopsy can help diagnose a liver infection, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis.Muscle and nerve biopsies can diagnose muscle or nerve diseases, such as muscular dystrophy.Testicular biopsies can determine possible causes of male infertility.
Almost any organ can be biopsied, and biopsies are performed for diseases other than cancer:
Will a Biopsy Hurt?
You may experience minor pain after a biopsy; however, your provider will administer a sedative or anesthesia to minimize pain and discomfort during the procedure.
When the biopsy process is complete, there might be a dull ache or pain at or near the biopsy site.The healthcare provider might recommend over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen or prescribe more potent pain medication.
Stress Management Techniques
Anxiety is a common feeling for many people who are anticipating an upcoming biopsy. To help alleviate anxiety, music therapy can help.Other relaxation techniques to try for anxiety relief include:
Recovering From Different Types of Biopsies
Biopsy recovery depends on the type of biopsy you have and your health history. For most biopsies, bleeding or bruising at the biopsy site is expected.
During recovery, healthcare providers will advise you to monitor the biopsy area for signs and symptoms of infection.Ifpus-like drainageoccurs or redness or swelling increases, notifying a healthcare provider immediately is essential.
When Are Biopsy Results Ready?
Waiting for the results of a biopsy can be just as nerve-wracking as the lead-up to the procedure. The timeline of results depends on a few factors, such as:
During a surgical biopsy, your provider may work closely with a pathologist for near-real-time preliminary results in case the surgeon needs to remove additional tissue.
Next Steps After Biopsy Results
Biopsy results can be confusing.
If your biopsy results are positive, your healthcare provider might need to order additional testing.For example, a positive muscle biopsy might lead to neuromuscular testing. Suppose the biopsy sample is positive forcancer. In that case, your provider will probably order additional testing to determine whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which areas of the body.
Summary
6 SourcesVerywell 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.National Health Service.Biopsy.Radiological Society of North America.General biopsy.National Library of Medicine.What happens during a biopsy.National Cancer Institute.How cancer is diagnosed.Ashour ASA, Abd-ElGawad M, Yohanna M, et al.Is music intervention effective in reducing anxiety and pain during breast biopsy procedure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Support Care Cancer. 2022;30(12):10379-10389. doi:10.1007/s00520-022-07414-7National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Pain: considering complementary approaches.
6 Sources
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.National Health Service.Biopsy.Radiological Society of North America.General biopsy.National Library of Medicine.What happens during a biopsy.National Cancer Institute.How cancer is diagnosed.Ashour ASA, Abd-ElGawad M, Yohanna M, et al.Is music intervention effective in reducing anxiety and pain during breast biopsy procedure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Support Care Cancer. 2022;30(12):10379-10389. doi:10.1007/s00520-022-07414-7National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Pain: considering complementary approaches.
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.
National Health Service.Biopsy.Radiological Society of North America.General biopsy.National Library of Medicine.What happens during a biopsy.National Cancer Institute.How cancer is diagnosed.Ashour ASA, Abd-ElGawad M, Yohanna M, et al.Is music intervention effective in reducing anxiety and pain during breast biopsy procedure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Support Care Cancer. 2022;30(12):10379-10389. doi:10.1007/s00520-022-07414-7National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Pain: considering complementary approaches.
National Health Service.Biopsy.
Radiological Society of North America.General biopsy.
National Library of Medicine.What happens during a biopsy.
National Cancer Institute.How cancer is diagnosed.
Ashour ASA, Abd-ElGawad M, Yohanna M, et al.Is music intervention effective in reducing anxiety and pain during breast biopsy procedure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Support Care Cancer. 2022;30(12):10379-10389. doi:10.1007/s00520-022-07414-7
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Pain: considering complementary approaches.
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