A biopsy is a procedure to remove a piece of tissue or a sample of cells from your body so that it can be tested in a laboratory. You may undergo a biopsy if you’re experiencing certain signs and symptoms or if your health care provider has identified an area of concern. A biopsy can determine whether you have cancer or another condition. Imaging tests, such as CT scans or MRIs, are helpful in detecting masses or irregular tissue, but they alone can’t tell the difference between cancerous cells and cells that aren’t cancerous. For most cancers, the only way to make a diagnosis is to perform a biopsy to collect cells for closer examination.

Here are some types of biopsies:

• Needle biopsy. Most biopsies are needle biopsies, meaning a needle is used to access the suspicious tissue.
• Bone biopsy. A bone biopsy is used to look for cancer of the bones. This may be performed via the CT scan technique or by an orthopedic surgeon.
• Liver biopsy. A needle is injected into the liver through the skin on the belly, capturing liver tissue.
• Kidney biopsy. Similar to a liver biopsy, a needle is injected through the skin on the back, into the kidney.
• Skin biopsy. A punch biopsy is the main biopsy method. It uses a circular blade to get a cylindrical sample of skin tissue.
• Surgical biopsy. Either open or laparoscopic surgery may be necessary to obtain a biopsy of hard-to-reach tissue. Either a piece of tissue or the whole lump of tissue may be removed.