Biopsy

A biopsy is the removal of a small amount of tissue, cells, or fluid to test for medical conditions. Biopsies can be done on any part of your body, including your skin, lymph nodes, bone marrow, or other organs. While some biopsies involve drawing and testing your blood or another bodily fluid, many are performed by removing tissue with a needle or during surgery. These tests can diagnose and monitor conditions, like infections, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune disorders, or cancer.

Penn Medicine’s expert surgeons and radiologists perform a high volume of biopsies, giving us a strong background in this important part of your care. With expertise across all specialties, our providers use advanced technology to precisely target the tissue that needs testing. Then, skilled pathologists examine the samples under a microscope. If a diagnosis is made based on your biopsy, our providers take the time to answer your questions, ensure that you understand the results, and recommend an effective care plan.

You may need a biopsy if you have signs of a disease. This may include swelling or a lump you can feel. Your doctor might also have noticed a lump, nodule, or mass on an imaging test. Evaluating your tissue or bodily fluid can determine if you have an infection, blood disorder, or another disease. It can also determine if you have a tumor and whether it’s noncancerous (benign) or cancerous. If you’ve already been diagnosed with cancer, a biopsy can check if the cancer has spread. Biopsies may also be done if you’ve had an organ transplant to check how well your body is tolerating the new organ.

The steps of your procedure depend on what type of biopsy you’re having and what area of your body is being tested. Your health care team will let you know what to do to prepare for your appointment. A liquid biopsy may be as simple as providing a blood or urine sample. If you’re having a skin biopsy, it can be done in your doctor’s office by numbing your skin and using a razor, scalpel, or punch device to remove a skin sample.

Other types of biopsies require an outpatient procedure. You may be given a sedation medication to help you relax and an anesthetic to numb the area, or you might have general anesthesia to put you in a sleep-like state. Imaging tests may help guide your doctor to the tissue being collected. During an endoscopic biopsy, surgical instruments are passed through the endoscope to take tissue samples. Needle, surgical, and laparoscopic biopsies involve going through the skin. Afterward, needle biopsies are covered with a bandage, while biopsies that require incisions are closed with stitches or surgical adhesive.

You’ll go home the same day after a biopsy. If you had a surgical biopsy, you might stay in the hospital for a few hours after the procedure. Your health care team will let you know when you can return to your typical activities. They’ll also let you know how to care for the wound if you have one. After a laparoscopic biopsy, you may have drainage tubes at the surgical site. Your provider will tell you how to care for the tubes until they’re removed. Before going home, your care team will also let you know when the results of the test are expected to be available.

You may have bruising, swelling, scarring, soreness, or some bleeding after a biopsy. There’s a low risk of infection. Contact your health care team if symptoms like pain or swelling get worse or if you have any other concerns after your procedure.

At Penn Medicine, our top surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists work with your specialist to provide an accurate diagnosis, which helps to shape your treatment plan. Our labs are accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) for accuracy, patient care, and safety. We also support you through every step of the procedure, including preparing for the biopsy, the procedure itself, your recovery, and your care plan going forward.