Biospy for Oral Cancer

Biopsy for oral cancer. ... A sample of tissues or cells is required for a biopsy, which must be conducted before treatment begins. The types of biopsies typically used for diagnosing oral cancers are: Incisional biopsy: A small piece of tissue is cut from an abnormal-looking area.

Only a biopsy may give a definitive oral cancer diagnosis. A sample of tissues or cells is required for a biopsy, which must be conducted before treatment begins. The types of biopsies typically used for diagnosing oral cancers are:

Incisional biopsy: A small piece of tissue is cut from an abnormal-looking area. If the abnormal region is easily accessed, the sample may be taken at your doctor’s office. If the tumor is deeper inside the mouth or throat, the biopsy may need to be performed in an operating room, with general anesthesia administered to prevent any pain.

Exfoliative cytology: A suspicious area is gently scraped to collect a sample of cells. These cells are placed on a glass slide and stained with dye, so that they can be easily viewed under a microscope. If any cells appear abnormal, a deeper biopsy will be performed.

What is a biopsy?
During a biopsy, a doctor removes a sample of tissue or fluid from the body. A pathologist inspects the cells under a microscope to see if they are cancerous. 

Some biopsies are performed endoscopically, others under image guidance, such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the radiology suite. In some cases, biopsies are performed in the operating suite. This allows your doctor to collect tissue from deep inside the body. Depending on the type of biopsy performed, you may receive an anesthetic to reduce discomfort.

Biopsies provide tissue samples for diagnosis and may help determine whether the cancer began at the site of the biopsy sample, or if it started somewhere else in the body.