Definition

1. Noun:
   • A medical procedure to obtain a sample of tissue from deep within the body using a hollow needle: A "needle biopsy" is a minimally invasive diagnostic technique where a thin, hollow needle is inserted through the skin to extract a small piece of tissue from an organ or mass for laboratory examination.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The doctor recommended a needle biopsy to determine if the lung nodule was cancerous.
  • A needle biopsy is often preferred over surgical biopsy because it is less invasive and requires less recovery time.

Advanced Usage

• "to perform a needle biopsy": to carry out the procedure.
  • The radiologist will perform a needle biopsy guided by ultrasound imaging.
• "to undergo a needle biopsy": to be the patient receiving the procedure.
  • The patient had to undergo a needle biopsy to get a definitive diagnosis.

Variants and Related Words

• Core needle biopsy (CNB): A type of needle biopsy that uses a slightly larger needle to remove a small, solid cylinder of tissue (a "core").
  • A core needle biopsy provides a larger tissue sample than a fine-needle aspiration.
• Fine-needle aspiration (FNA): A type of needle biopsy that uses a very thin needle to withdraw (aspirate) fluid and cells.
  • Fine-needle aspiration is commonly used for biopsies of the thyroid gland.
• Biopsy (n): The general procedure of removing tissue or cells for examination.
• Percutaneous biopsy: A broader term for any biopsy performed through the skin, which includes needle biopsies.

Synonyms

• Percutaneous biopsy: (when referring specifically to a needle-based approach through the skin)
• Minimally invasive biopsy: (describes the general characteristic of the procedure)

Related Phrases

• Image-guided needle biopsy: A needle biopsy where the needle's placement is directed by real-time imaging such as ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI.
  • The accuracy of an image-guided needle biopsy is very high.
• Stereotactic needle biopsy: A precise type of image-guided biopsy often used for breast or brain tissue, using a three-dimensional coordinate system to locate the target.
  • She had a stereotactic needle biopsy to examine the microcalcifications in her breast.

Notes

• "Needle biopsy" is a compound noun. The procedure is defined by the tool (a needle) and its purpose (a biopsy). It is a specific technical term within the medical field.

Noun

1. biopsy of deep tissue that is obtained through a hollow needle