Biopsy

A biopsy is when a small sample of tissue or cells is taken from the body so it can be examined under a microscope. The sample goes to a doctor called a pathologist, who looks at it for signs of damage or disease and may run further tests on it (MedlinePlus).

It often sounds more alarming than it is. In bowel and IBD care, a biopsy is usually a tiny pinch of the gut lining taken painlessly during a colonoscopy, because the bowel lining itself has no pain nerves of the kind your skin has.

Why it is done

A biopsy is used to identify abnormal cells, confirm a diagnosis, tell how severe a condition is and what stage it is at, and help rule out cancer (NHS). For many conditions it is the step that settles the question: in most cases a biopsy is the only test that can say for sure whether a suspicious area is cancer, though biopsies are done for many other reasons too, including diagnosing inflammation in IBD (MedlinePlus).

How the sample is taken

Depending on what is being checked, a sample may be taken with a needle through the skin or with a long, thin tube with a small camera inside (an endoscope), and is then sent to a laboratory (NHS).

Waiting for results

Results usually take up to 14 days and go to the doctor who requested the biopsy. Some results take longer, though when doctors think cancer is a possibility the results are usually given within about 2 weeks (NHS). The wait is often the hardest part; your team can tell you when and how you will hear.