What is a Biopsy?
A biopsy is often recommended following a consultation on the clinic.
It is a simple procedure that provides tissue for the histopathologists to discover the presence, cause or extent of a disease.
The procedure is carried out under local anæsthetic, that is, you will be awake and have an injection to numb up the tissue in question. You will have stitches at the biopsy site that dissolve over the next 10 – 14 days. You can expect some discomfort and possibly swelling afterwards. These will settle over the next few days.
The whole process should take less than 30 minutes.
There are two types of biopsy:
Excisional Biopsy
Where the biopsy aims to remove an area completely. This is usually only appropriate for small lumps or swellings.
