Who introduced the word biopsy to the medical community in 1879?
The French dermatologist Ernest Besnier introduced the word biopsy to the medical community in 1879. He derived the term from Greek words meaning life and sight.
Questions about Biopsy
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is the difference between an excisional biopsy and an incisional biopsy?
A surgeon may remove an entire lump during what is called an excisional biopsy, whereas an incisional biopsy takes only a wedge of tissue when intact removal is not indicated. Clear margins mean no disease was found at the edges of the biopsy specimen while positive margins indicate that disease was found requiring a wider excision depending on the diagnosis.
How accurate are liquid biopsy blood tests for detecting cancer DNA in patients with metastatic cancers?
Researchers found tumor DNA in more than 80 percent of patients with metastatic cancers in a 2014 study analyzing the blood of 846 patients across 24 institutions. These blood tests detect circulating tumor cells and cell-free circulating tumor DNA in real time to assess whether malignant cells remain after tumors have been surgically removed.
When do pathologists examine surgical margins to determine how far cancer has spread through tissue?
Pathologists analyze surgical margins to determine how far cancer has spread through tissue after a biopsy specimen travels to the pathology laboratory for processing. The lab creates an extremely thin slice attached to a glass slide and uses dyes so individual cells become visible under magnification before preparing a report.
What specific organs receive biopsies to evaluate fertility or renal function?
Testicular biopsies evaluate male fertility when sperm quality is low despite normal hormone levels, and kidney biopsies use fluorescence microscopy to diagnose alterations of renal function such as Crescentic glomerulonephritis. Biopsies of the liver determine response to therapy by assessing reduction of inflammation and progression of fibrosis.