|
|
Biopsy: Types of biopsy procedures used to diagnose Precancer and Cancer
You might be nervous about an upcoming biopsy. Learning about biopsies, how and why they're performed, may help reduce your anxiety.
A biopsy is a procedure to remove a piece of tissue or a sample of cells from your body so that it can be analyzed in a laboratory. If you're experiencing certain signs and symptoms or if your doctor has identified an area of concern, you may undergo a biopsy to determine whether you have cancer or some other condition.
While imaging tests, such as X-rays, are helpful in detecting masses or areas of abnormality, they alone can't differentiate cancerous cells from noncancerous cells. For the majority of cancers, the only way to make a definitive diagnosis is to use a biopsy to collect cells for closer examination.
Here's a look at the various types of biopsy procedures used to diagnose cancer.
Incisional biopsies : If the lesion is large and there is a chance that it is malignant or cancerous, the dentist will remove a piece of tissue from the lesion and sample it.
Excisional Biopsies : If the lesion if tiny and the dentist thinks that it is benign or not cancerous, he will remove the entire lesion altogether such as apthous ulcers (cold sores).
At Paul Dental & Orthodontic Centre, biopsy procedures are routinely carried out and diagnosis is made by an Oral Oncopathologist – Dr. Mayura Paul
|