biopsy
/ˈbʌɪɒpsi
/noun (plural biopsies)
An examination of tissue removed from a living body to discover the presence, cause, or extent of a disease: a bone marrow biopsy [mass noun]: cirrhosis was confirmed by biopsy...
- Microscopic examination of the gastric biopsies revealed the presence of cellular infiltrate in the mucosa and submucosa.
- Ultrasound examination and core biopsies confirm the diagnosis.
- In these cases, mistakes frequently are made during examination of endoscopic biopsies.
verb (biopsies, biopsying, biopsied) [with object]
Conduct a biopsy on (tissue removed from a living body): the lesions may be malignant and should be biopsied...
- But there's controversy: Unlike shaved or excised moles, lasered ones can't be biopsied because no skin tissue is removed.
- Should they be systematically biopsied and removed, or can some just be left alone?
- New imaging technologies enable students to explore bodily structures without dissecting, while pathological studies can often be made on tissue located and biopsied in the living patient.
Origin
Late 19th century: coined in French from Greek bios 'life' + opsis 'sight', on the pattern of necropsy.