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Taking a sliver of tissue (core) or a few cells (fine-needle aspiration) through a needle guided by ultrasound, CT or MRI, to diagnose the cancer and test its markers without surgery.
Core biopsy preserves tissue architecture and gives enough material for immunohistochemistry (ER, PR, HER2, PD-L1) and genomic panels, so it is the standard for breast, prostate (MRI-targeted), lung and liver lesions. FNA gives cytology only and suits thyroid nodules (Bethesda system) and lymph nodes. Bone marrow aspirate and trephine biopsy diagnose and monitor leukaemias and myeloma. Re-biopsy at progression identifies resistance mechanisms (T790M, small-cell transformation) when liquid biopsy is uninformative.
Showing the technology this term belongs to: Histopathology & immunohistochemistry.
Shares Cell-free DNA (cfDNA), Diagnostics roadmap: stains → gene panels → blood tests that decide treatment, Liquid biopsy (ctDNA).
Shares Inflammatory breast cancer, Breast cancer (all types).
Shares Receptor conversion: when the receptors change between the primary and a recurrence, Breast cancer (all types).
Shares Phyllodes tumour of the breast, Histology, Breast cancer (all types).
Shares Paget disease of the nipple, Inflammatory breast cancer, Breast cancer (all types).
Shares Inflammatory breast cancer, Breast cancer (all types).