Biopsy

Reviewed by Dr John Pillinger, GP and Dr Philip Owen, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist

Breast biopsy

This kind of biopsy is used if a clinical examination, ultrasound scan or a mammography reveals the possibility of a lump or tumour in the breast. The biopsy determines whether the lump is benign or malignant.

One method called fine-needle aspiration or FNA, uses a hypodermic needle to pierce the skin and suck out the sample. This may sometimes be done under ultrasound or X-ray guidance.

Another option is a surgical biopsy, where the whole lump is removed.

Small intestine biopsy

It is not always possible to examine the central part of the small intestine (jejunum) with an endoscope. In such cases, a biopsy capsule is used to take samples from the area.

The patient swallows the capsule, which is connected to a thin tube. Then, an X-ray is taken to make sure that the capsule is in the jejunum. When the capsule is in the right place, a partial pressure is created in the tube by pulling back a syringe connected to the other end of the tube. In this way, a small piece of the mucous membrane of the small intestine is sucked into the capsule. The membrane sample is cut off in the capsule, and the capsule is pulled back so that the biopsy can be examined. This is most useful in the investigation of the bowel condition called coeliac disease.

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