A biopsy is a medical procedure in which a small sample of tissue is taken from the body for microscopic examination in a laboratory.
The purpose of the test is to identify cellular changes, determine whether the process is inflammatory, infectious, or tumorous, and to help the physician choose the most appropriate treatment. The sample can be taken from various locations in the body – for example, from the stomach during gastroscopy, from the skin, from the liver, or from other areas – depending on the clinical suspicion.
The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia or as part of an endoscopic examination, and it is considered safe and simple.