What's a Biopsy?

Biopsy

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Sometimes, when doctors aren't sure what's wrong with a part of the body, they might do a test called a biopsy. This means they remove a tiny piece and look at it under a microscope. Skin biopsies are common, but doctors also can do a biopsy on things like a muscle, lung, or kidney. Biopsies give doctors a closer look at what's going on inside, which helps them make a diagnosis and find the right treatment. A doctor will give the person medicine called anesthesia to keep them comfortable while the biopsy is done.