A biopsy is the removal and examination of fluids or tissue from a patient's body in order to discover why they are ill.
biopsy in British English
(ˈbaɪɒpsɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-sies
1.
examination, esp under a microscope, of tissue from a living body to determine the cause or extent of a disease
2.
the sample taken for such an examination
Derived forms
bioptic (baɪˈɒptɪk) or biopsic (baɪˈɒpsɪk)
adjective
Word origin
C20: from bio- + Greek opsis sight
biopsy in American English
(ˈbaɪˌɑpsi)
Medicine
nounWord forms: pluralˈbiˌopsies
1.
the removal of living tissue from the body for diagnostic examination
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈbiˌopsied or ˈbiˌopsying
2.
to perform a biopsy on
Word origin
< bio- + -opsis
Examples of 'biopsy' in a sentence
biopsy
Tissue biopsies can be inaccessible in lung cancer patients.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In March a patient was cut open only to have the wrong part of their kidney taken out for biopsy.
The Sun (2016)
Fat tissue biopsies were done.
The Sun (2017)
Experts found diseased biopsy tissue turned reddish brown when a certain chemical was applied.
The Sun (2013)
Currently women face a wait for biopsy results.
The Sun (2013)
Only after the biopsy result comes through is it time to sit down and talk about palliative care.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
I had a cone biopsy to take away half of my cervix.
The Sun (2010)
A tiny piece of tissue may also be taken for a biopsy.
The Sun (2009)
He said in January he was booked in to have a tumour removed and was waiting for biopsy results.
The Sun (2016)
Now they may perform a muscle biopsy and see him again in four months, which seems a long wait.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The results of the biopsy from the original operation have not been made public, so it is not known whether the tumour was benign or malignant.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She is also waiting for the results of a biopsy, as doctors are worried about the possibility of cancer, too.
The Sun (2013)
I also had a tissue biopsy taken, but went home thinking it couldn't be too worrying.
The Sun (2012)
If any are found, a biopsy then takes place, where small samples of body tissue areexamined under the microscope for abnormal cells.
The Sun (2015)
The diagnosis is suggested by the symptoms but it can be be confirmed only by special tests (typically a blood sample and bowel biopsy).
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Next up is a full physical, and a muscle biopsy that determines the quality of her mitochondria, the energy factories of the cells that control metabolism.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
biopsy
British English: biopsy NOUN
A biopsy is the removal and examination of fluids or tissue from a patient's body in order to discover why they are ill.