A biopsy is not always a surgery, but it can be in certain cases. A biopsy is a medical procedure used to remove a small sample of tissue or cells from the body for examination under a microscope. The purpose of a biopsy is to diagnose a medical condition, typically to confirm or rule out cancer.
There are different types of biopsies, including:
- Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA): A thin needle is inserted into the suspicious area to extract cells. This method is usually performed with local anesthesia and doesn't require a surgical incision.
- Core needle biopsy: A larger needle is used to remove a core of tissue, usually with local anesthesia. This technique also doesn't usually require a surgical incision.
- Surgical biopsy: This type of biopsy involves a surgical incision to access the suspicious area and remove a larger section of tissue.
Examples of surgical biopsy procedures include:
- Excisional biopsy: This involves removing the entire lesion, including the surrounding tissue.
- Incisional biopsy: This involves removing a small piece of tissue from the lesion for analysis.
Surgical biopsies are often performed when:
- The lesion is large or deep within the body.
- The physician needs to remove a large enough sample of tissue to obtain a definitive diagnosis.
- The lesion needs to be completely removed for treatment purposes.
Therefore, whether a biopsy is considered a surgery depends on the type of biopsy being performed.
