Punch biopsy

A relatively small biopsy punch (about 2 mm)

The punch biopsy is a procedure for obtaining a tissue cylinder from suspicious body regions for the purpose of a fine tissue ( histological ) examination. Various needle types (e.g. TruCut) and diameters (1.1–2.2 mm) can also be used. Punch biopsies are performed, for example, in suspected cancerous lumps in the female breast , liver or prostate as well as to examine the skin and in connection with bone marrow punctures .

The tissue cylinders are fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. Thin (5 µm) sections are made from this with a microtome , stained and assessed under the microscope by a specialist in pathology . The punch biopsy can be performed under local anesthesia. In some cases, the less invasive fine-needle biopsy is an alternative.

See also

• PCA3 for further clarification, which is sensible and gentle in certain cases, after the PSA determination and before the biopsy using a urine sample if prostate carcinoma is suspected.

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !