Biopsy Meaning and Definition
Biopsy
Pronunciation
/ˈbaɪ.ɒpsɪ/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A biopsy is a medical procedure in which a sample of tissue or cells is extracted from the body to examine it for signs of disease or other conditions.
Examples
- The doctor performed a biopsy on the patient’s suspicious mole to determine if it was cancerous.
- The surgeon removed a tissue sample from the patient’s knee to perform a biopsy and diagnose the cause of the pain.
Synonyms
- Biopsy procedure
- tissue sampling
Antonyms
- Autopsy
- Examination
Etymology
The word “biopsy” is derived from the Greek words “bio” meaning “life” and “opsis” meaning “seeing”, and was first used in the early 20th century to describe a surgical procedure.
Additional Information
Biopsies are commonly used to diagnose and monitor diseases such as cancer, skin conditions, and infections. There are various types of biopsies, including fine needle aspiration, core biopsy, and surgical biopsy. The choice of biopsy type depends on the location and size of the tissue or cells to be sampled, as well as the desired level of detail.
Biopsies can be performed using different techniques, such as ultrasound or CT guidance, or under local or general anesthesia, depending on the location and complexity of the procedure.
Usage Notes
When using the term “biopsy”, it is important to specify the type of biopsy being performed, such as “fine needle aspiration biopsy” or “surgical biopsy”, to avoid confusion.
Cultural References
Biopsies have been featured in popular culture, such as in medical dramas like “Grey’s Anatomy” or “House M.D.”, and in films like “The Way We Were” or “Philadelphia”.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
There are no common idiomatic expressions or phrases that include the word “biopsy”. However, the phrase “to take a biopsy” can be used figuratively to describe the act of gathering information or data.
Related Words or Phrases
Related words or phrases include “biopsy procedure”, “tissue sampling”, “autopsy”, “examination”, and “diagnosis”.
Collocations
Common collocations with the term “biopsy” include “perform a biopsy”, “interpret biopsy results”, and “diagnose with biopsy”.
Frequency of Use
Biopsies are a common medical procedure, and the term is frequently used in medical contexts, with an estimated frequency of 10-15 times per 10,000 words in medical literature.
Common Misspellings
Common misspellings of the word “biopsy” include “biopsie”, “biopsis”, and “biospy”.