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Medical Disability Advisor  >  Biopsy

Biopsy

Related Terms

  • Tissue Sample
  • Tissue Sampling

Specialists

  • Dermatologist
  • General Surgeon

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Factors Influencing Duration

Factors influencing disability include the presence of complications, the type of procedure used, site of procedure, and severity of underlying condition making biopsy necessary.

Medical Codes

ICD-9-CM:
01.11 - Closed [Percutaneous] [Needle] Biopsy of Cerebral Meninges; Burr Hole Approach
01.12 - Open Biopsy of Cerebral Meninges
01.13 - Closed [Percutaneous] [Needle] Biopsy of Brain; Burr Hole Approach; Stereotactic Method
03.32 - Biopsy of Spinal Cord or Spinal Meninges
05.11 - Biopsy of Sympathetic Nerve or Ganglion
06.11 - Closed (Percutaneous) (Needle) Biopsy of Thyroid Gland; Aspiration Biopsy of Thyroid
06.12 - Open Biopsy of Thyroid Gland
06.13 - Biopsy of Parathyroid Gland
07.11 - Closed [Percutaneous] [Needle] Biopsy of Adrenal Gland
07.12 - Open Biopsy of Adrenal Gland
07.15 - Biopsy of Pituitary Gland, Unspecified Approach
07.16 - Biopsy of Thymus
22.11 - Diagnostic Procedures on Nasal Sinus; Closed [Endoscopic] [Needle] Biopsy of Nasal Sinus
22.12 - Diagnostic Procedures on Nasal sinus; Open Biopsy of Nasal Sinus
25.02 - Diagnostic Procedures on Tongue; Open Biopsy of Tongue; Wedge Biopsy
26.11 - Closed (Needle) Biopsy of Salivary Gland or Duct
27.22 - Biopsy of Uvula and Soft Palate
27.23 - Biopsy of Lip
27.24 - Biopsy of Mouth, Unspecified Structure
28.11 - Biopsy of Tonsils and Adenoids
31.43 - Closed (Endoscopic) Biopsy of Larynx
31.44 - Closed (Endoscopic) Biopsy of Trachea
33.24 - Closed [Endoscopic] Biopsy of Bronchus; Bronchoscopy (Fiberoptic) (Rigid) with: Brush Biopsy of "Lung", Brushing of Washing for Specimen Collection, Excision (Bite) Biopsy; Diagnostic Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL)
33.26 - Closed [Percutaneous] [Needle] Biopsy of Lung; Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA); Transthoracic Needle Biopsy of Lung (TNNB)
33.27 - Closed Endoscopic Biopsy of Lung; Fiber-optic (Flexible) Bronchoscopy with Fluoroscopic Guidance with Biopsy; Transbronchial Lung Biopsy
34.24 - Pleural Biopsy, Other
38.21 - Biopsy of Blood Vessel
40.11 - Biopsy of Lymphatic Structure
41.31 - Bone Marrow Biopsy
41.32 - Closed (Aspiration) (Percutaneous) Biopsy of Spleen
42.24 - Closed (Endoscopic) Biopsy of Esophagus; Brushing or Washing for Specimen Collection; Esophagoscopy with Biopsy; Suction Biopsy of the Esophagus
44.14 - Closed (Endoscopic) Biopsy of Stomach; Brushing or Washing for Specimen Collection
45.14 - Closed [Endoscopic] Biopsy of Small Intestine; Brushing or Washing of Specimen Collection
45.25 - Closed [Endoscopic] Biopsy of Large Intestine; Biopsy, closed, of Unspecified Intestinal Site; Brushing or Washing for Specimen Collection; Colonoscopy with Biopsy
48.25 - Open Biopsy of Rectum
49.22 - Perianal Tissue Biopsy
49.23 - Biopsy of Anus
50.11 - Closed (Percutaneous) (Needle) Biopsy of Liver
51.12 - Percutaneous Biopsy of Gallbladder or Bile Ducts; Needle Biopsy of Gallbladder
52.11 - Closed (Aspiration) (Needle) (Percutaneous) Biopsy of Pancreas
52.12 - Open Biopsy of Pancreas
55.23 - Closed [Percutaneous] [Needle] Biopsy of Kidney; Endoscopic Biopsy via Existing Nephrostomy, Nephrotomy, Pyelostomy, or Pyelotomy
55.24 - Open Biopsy of Kidney
57.33 - Closed [Transurethral] Biopsy of Bladder
57.34 - Open Biopsy of Bladder
60.11 - Closed [Percutaneous] [Needle] Biopsy of Prostate; Approach: Transrectal, Transurethral; Punch Biopsy
60.12 - Open Biopsy of Prostate
62.11 - Closed [Percutaneous] [Needle] Biopsy of Testis
65.11 - Aspiration Biopsy of Ovary
65.12 - Other Biopsy of Ovary
67.11 - Endocervical Biopsy
68.13 - Open Biopsy of Uterus
70.24 - Operations on Vagina and Cul-de-sac, Vaginal Biopsy
71.11 - Biopsy of Vulva
77.4 - Biopsy of Bone
80.3 - Biopsy of Joint Structure
83.21 - Biopsy of Soft Tissue
85.11 - Closed [Percutaneous] [Needle] Biopsy of Breast
86.11 - Biopsy of Skin or Subcutaneous Tissue

Definition

Biopsy is a procedure that is done to obtain a small sample of tissue (cells) for examination in a laboratory. In most cases, a biopsy is obtained to assist the physician in making a diagnosis. For instance, a tumor sample can be examined to determine if it is cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign). A biopsy can also be obtained to evaluate the severity or extent of a disease (for example, a biopsy of the liver or kidney). Biopsy of a nerve or muscle may help diagnose certain neurological conditions, such as neuropathy or myopathy. Biopsy of skin or other tissue that contains blood vessels may help diagnose inflammation of the arteries (arteritis) seen in connective tissue diseases, such as lupus or temporal arteritis. Bone marrow biopsy can help explain certain hematological conditions affecting the blood, such as anemia or leukemia. Biopsy of tissue lining a joint space (synovium) is helpful in diagnosing arthritis. Another common reason to obtain a biopsy is to assess the effectiveness of certain medical treatments. For example, after chemotherapy for cancer, the physician may biopsy the affected tissues to see if the cancer has been destroyed.

There are several ways of approaching a biopsy sample: fine needle (a small core needle is inserted through the skin into the tissue in question), core needle (a larger core needle is inserted through the skin into the tissue in question to acquire a piece of tissue larger than could be acquired through a fine needle), or open excisional (in which an incision in made through the skin and the surgeon removes samples of the tissue in question). The type of approach used in acquiring the biopsy sample depends on the diagnosis being considered and on whether there is concern about tumor cells spreading along the needle tract. A biopsy usually can be obtained on an outpatient basis, except for the open biopsy, which is done as part of a surgical operation under general anesthesia.

Source: Medical Disability Advisor



Reason for Procedure

Biopsies are done to obtain samples of tissues for further evaluation in a laboratory. This is commonly done to help the physician make a diagnosis, to help determine the severity or extent of a disease, to evaluate the effectiveness of certain treatments, or to determine the cause of certain inflammations or infections.

Source: Medical Disability Advisor



How Procedure is Performed

The details of the procedure vary depending on the tissue being biopsied. For a skin or muscle biopsy, the skin over the area being sampled is sterilized, usually with an iodine solution. The area is then numbed (anesthetized) with local anesthetic. A small piece of tissue is cut away with a sterile scalpel, and the small wound is stitched (sutured) closed. In the skin biopsy technique called "shave biopsy," a partial-thickness piece of skin is removed with a scalpel and the wound is not sutured but is covered with a light dressing. In the skin biopsy technique called "punch biopsy," a small piece of skin is removed with a circular instrument called a punch. The resulting wound can be sutured or dressed with a light bandage.

For a needle biopsy, the skin over the area being sampled is sterilized and numbed (anesthetized). A sterile needle is inserted through the skin and into the tissue being sampled. The needle containing the sample is removed, and the wound is covered with a bandage.

An open biopsy is done under general anesthesia, as part of a surgical operation. A sample of the tissue is cut away during the surgery. The whole organ or lump may be removed (excisional biopsy), or only a portion of the lump may be removed (incisional biopsy). If the remainder of the procedure depends on what the biopsy reveals, as in the case of breast removal (mastectomy) for a malignant tumor, a frozen section of cells from the biopsy is examined immediately by a pathologist for a preliminary reading. Frozen-section diagnosis is not as reliable as fixed-tissue diagnosis, which takes longer because the cells are subjected to different staining procedures. Final diagnosis awaits examination of the fixed section.

Endoscopic biopsy is done through a fiber-optic instrument (endoscope) inserted into the gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal endoscopy), urinary bladder (cystoscopy), abdomen (laparoscopy), joint cavity (arthroscopy), midportion of the chest (mediastinoscopy), airway and windpipe (laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy), or uterus (colposcopy).

Skin, muscle, and needle biopsies are generally done as outpatient procedures, under local anesthetic.

Source: Medical Disability Advisor



Prognosis

Full recovery is expected following biopsy.

Source: Medical Disability Advisor



Complications

Biopsy is generally uncomplicated. As with all surgical techniques, the risk of infection, bleeding, scarring, and allergic reaction to anesthesia should be considered. Surgical disruption of a cancerous tumor or localized infection (abscess) rarely causes spread of cancer cells or infectious organisms.

Source: Medical Disability Advisor



Return to Work (Restrictions / Accommodations)

Restrictions and accommodations are not needed for this procedure.

Source: Medical Disability Advisor



General References

Pillinger, John, and Philip Owen, eds. "Biopsy." NetDoctor.co.uk. Eds. John Pillinger and Philip Owen. 10 Jan. 2002. 19 May 2005 <http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/examinations/biopsy.htm>.

Source: Medical Disability Advisor






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