A biopsy is a surgical procedure to obtain tissue samples for microscopic examination and diagnosis. The main types of biopsies are cytology, aspiration, incisional, and excisional. Cytology examines individual cells but cannot provide histologic details, while aspiration uses a needle to remove fluid or cells. Incisional biopsies remove a portion of tissue, while excisional biopsies completely remove small lesions. Proper biopsy techniques aim to obtain representative tissue samples while avoiding thermal or mechanical damage. Careful documentation and handling of specimens aids pathological examination and diagnosis.

3. Definition
Biopsy is a surgical procedure to obtain
tissue from a living organism for its
microscopical examination, usually to
perform a diagnosis.

4. Indications for Biopsy
Inflammatory changes of unknown cause that
persist for long periods
Lesion that interfere with local function
Bone lesions not specifically identified by clinical
and radiographic findings
Any lesion that has the characteristics of
malignancy

5. Characteristics of lesions that raise
.the suspicion of malignancy
Erythroplasia- lesion is totally red or has a speckled red
appearance.
Ulceration- lesion is ulcerated or presents as an ulcer.
Duration- lesion has persisted for more than two weeks.
Growth rate- lesion exhibits rapid growth
Bleeding- lesion bleeds on gentle manipulation
Induration- lesion and surrounding tissue is firm to the
touch
Fixation- lesion feels attached to adjacent structures

6. Types of Biopsy
The four major types of biopsy routinely used in and
around the oral cavity are :
cytology,
aspiration biopsy,
incisional biopsy,
and excisional biopsy.

7. Oral Cytology
Oral cytology is typically used as an adjunct to, not a
substitute for, incisional or excisional biopsy
procedures
Cytology allows examination of individual cells, but
cannot provide the histologic features crucial for an
accurate and definitive diagnosis
 Developed as a diagnostic screening procedure to
monitor large tissue areas for dysplastic changes.
Lesions that lend themselves to cytologic
examination may include; post-radiation changes,
herpes, fungal infections, and pemphigus.

8. Procedures of cytological biopsy
In a cytologic examination, the lesion is scraped
repeatedly and firmly with a moistened tongue
depressor or cytology brush.
The cells are then transferred to and smeared evenly
on a glass slide.
The slide is immediately immersed in a fixing
solution or sprayed with a fixative, such as hairspray.
 The cells can be stained with any of a myriad of
laboratory preparations and examined under the
microscope.

9. The Advantages andDisadvantage of oral
:cytological procedures include
Advantages
Cytology may be helpful when large areas of
mucosal change are noted, or in areas with
difficult surgical access
Disadvantages
Not very reliable with many false positives.
Expertise in oral cytology is not widely available

10. Aspiration Biopsy
Aspiration biopsy is the use of a needle and syringe to
remove a sample of cells or contents of a lesion.
 The inability to withdraw fluid or air indicates that
the lesion is probably solid

11. Aspiration Biopsy
Indications:
To determine the presents of fluid within a lesion
To a certain the type of fluid within a lesion
When exploration of an intraosseous lesion is indicated

12. Aspiration
Procedures:
An 18-gauge needle is connected to a 5 or 10 ml syringe
and is inserted into the center of the mass via a small hole
in the lesion.
The tip of the needle may need to be positioned in
multiple directions to locate a potential fluid center.
 The material withdrawn during aspiration biopsy can be
submitted for pathologic examination and/or culturing.

13. The inability to withdraw fluid or air indicates that
the lesion is probably solid.
 A radiolucent lesion in the jaw that yields strawcolored fluid on aspiration is most likely a cystic
lesion.
If purulent exudate (pus) is withdrawn, then an
inflammatory or infectious process should be
considered..

14. The aspiration of blood might indicate a vascular
malformation within the bone.
Any intrabony radiolucent lesion should be aspirated
before surgical intervention to rule out a vascular
lesion.
 If the lesion is determined to be vascular in nature,
the flow rate (high versus low) should be determined
because uncontrollable hemorrhage can occur if
incised

15. Incisional Biopsy
The intent of an incisional biopsy is to sample only a
representative portion of the lesion.
If the lesion is large or has many differing
characteristics, more than one area may require
sampling.

16. Incisional Biopsy

17. Indications of incisional biopsy
whenever the lesion is difficult to excise because of its
extensive size
 in cases where appropriate excisional surgical
management requires hospitalization or complicated
wound management.

18. Technique of Incisional Biopsy
Representative areas are biopsied in a wedge fashion.
Margins should extend into normal tissue on the deep
surface.
Necrotic tissue should be avoided.
 The sample should be taken from the edge of the lesion to include
surrounding normal tissue
 It should be deep enough to include underlying changes of the
surface lesion.

19. Incisional biopsy

20. Punch biopsy

21. Punch biopsy
. Another tool that can be used for incisional or
excisional purposes.
biopsy is especially well suited for diagnosis of oral
manifestations of mucocutaneous and
vesiculoulcerative diseases, such as lichen planus,
pemphigus, etc

23. Brush biopsy
Firm pressure with a circular
brush is applied, rotated
five to ten times, causing
light abrasion.
 The cellular material picked
up by the brush is transferred
to a glass slide, preserved,
and dried.

24. Technique of punch biopsy
biopsy punches should range in size from 2-10 mm in
diameter
 the smaller diameters should be avoided due to the
risk of over-manipulating and crushing the tissue .
The technique is easily performed with a low
incidence of postsurgical morbidity.
Suturing in regards to a punch biopsy procedure is
usually not required as the surgical wounds heal by
secondary intention.

25. Disadvantages
One disadvantage of using the biopsy punch is that it
is difficult to obtain adequate, representative tissue
deeper than the superficial lamina propria (1).

26. Excisional Biopsy
Indications:
Should be employed with small lesions. Less than 1cm
The lesion on clinical exam appears benign.
When complete excision with a margin of normal tissue
is possible without mutilation.

27. Technique
An excisional biposy implies the complete removal of the lesion.
A perimeter of normal tissue (2-3 mm) surrounding the
lesion is included with the specimen.
 Excisional biopsy should be performed on smaller lesions
(less than 1 cm in diameter) that appear clinically benign.
 Pigmented and vascular lesions should be removed, if
possible, in their entirety. This avoids seeding of the
melanin producing tumor cells into the wound site or in
the case of a hemangioma, allows the clinician to address
the feeder vessels.

28. Exisional biopsy

30. Anesthesia
Block anesthesia is preferred to infiltration
When blocks are not possible distant infiltration may
be used
Never inject directly into the lesion

31. Tissue Stabilization
Digital stabilization
Specialized retractors/forceps
Retraction sutures
Towel Clips

32. Hemostasis
Suction devices should be avoided
Gauze compresses are usually adequate
Gauze wrapped low volume suction may be used if
needed

33. Incisions
Incisions should be made with a scalpel.
They should be converging
Should extend beyond the suspected depth of the lesion
They should parallel important structures
Margins should include 2 to 3mm of normal appearing
tissue if the lesion is thought to be benign.
5mm or more may be necessary with lesions that appear
malignant, vascular, pigmented, or have diffuse borders.

34. Handling of the Tissue Specimen
special care should be undertaken to hold the
specimen gently at the periphery of the sample.
Injection of large amounts of anesthetic solution in
the biopsy area, while providing hemostasis, can
produce hemorrhage, which masks the normal
cellular architecture.
 Infiltration of local anesthetic around the lesion is
acceptable if the field is wide enough in relation to
the lesion;

35. Handling of the Tissue Specimen
injection directly into the lesion should be avoided.
 Use of electrocautery to excise the specimen remains a
common complicating factor in determining an accurate
microscopic diagnosis.
Heat produced by these units alters both the epithelium
and the underlying connective.
Small tissue biopsies to rule out malignancy are usually
nondiagnostic if excised by electrocautery, as the presence
of epithelial atypia is typically obscured
If electrocautery is to be used, the incision margin should
be far enough away from the interface of the lesion to
prevent thermal changes at that interface (2).


36. Specimen Care
The specimen should be immediately placed in 10%
formalin solution, and be completely immersed.

37. Margins of the Biopsy
Margins of the tissue should be identified to orient
the pathologist. A silk suture is often adequate.
Illustrations are also very helpful and should be
included.

38. Surgical Closure
Primary closure of the wound is usually possible
Mucosal undermining may be necessary
Elliptical incision on the hard palate or attached
gingiva may be left to heal by secondary intention.

39. Biopsy Data Sheet
A biopsy data sheet should be completed and the
specimen immediately labeled. All pertinent history
and descriptions of the lesion must be conveyed.

40. The biopsy report
It should include
the name of the clinician,
date the specimen was obtained
pertinent characteristics of the specimen.

41. The location/site, size, color, number, borders or
margins, consistency, and relative radiodensity of the
lesion are all important findings that should be
included in the description of the specimen.
 If the lesion is evident on radiographs, it is very
important to submit good quality radiographs with
the specimen to aid in pathologic correlation and
diagnosis.

42. Intraosseous and Hard Tissue Biopsy
Intraosseous lesions are most often the result of
problems associated with the dentition.

43. Indications for Intraosseous Biopsy
Any intraosseous lesion that fails to respond to
routine treatment of the dentition.
Any intraosseous lesion that appears unrelated to the
dentition.

44. Principles of Surgery
Mucperiosteal flaps should be designed to allow
adequate access for incisional/excisional biopsy.
Incisions should be over sound bone
Cortical perforation must be considered when
designing flaps
Flaps should be full thickness
Major neurovascular structures should be avoided

45. Principles of Surgery
Osseous windows should be submitted with the
specimen
Osseous preformations can be enlarged to gain
access
Avoid roots and neurovascular structures
The tissue consistency and nature of the lesion will
determine the ease of removal

46. Principles of Surgery
Incisional biopsies only require removal of a
section of tissue
Soft tissue overlying the lesion should be
reapproximated following thorough irrigation of
the operative site.
The specimen should be handled as previously
described

47. When To Refer For Biopsy
When the health of the patient requires special
management that the dentist feel unprepared to handle
The size and surgical difficulty is beyond the level of skill
that the dentist feels he/she possesses
If the dentist is concerned about the possibility of
malignancy

48. References
1. Lynch DP, Morris LF. The oral mucosal punch
biopsy: indica-tions and technique. J Am Dent Assoc
1990 Jul;121(1):145-9.
2. Margarone JE, Natiella JR, Vaughan CD. Artifacts in
oral biopsy specimens. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 1985
Mar;43(3):163-72.
3. Sheehan DC, Hrapchak BB. Theory and practice of
histo-technology. Saint Louis: C. V. Mosby Co.; 1973.
Dent Assoc 1996 Mar;127(3):363-8.

49. 4. Abbey LM, Sweeney WT. Fixation artifacts in oral
biopsy specimens. Va Dent J 1972 Dec;49(6):31-4.
5. Zegarelli DJ. Common problems in biopsy
procedure. J Oral Surg 1978 Aug;36(8):644-7.
6.Sol Silverman, L Roy Eversole , Edmond L.
Truelove, Essentials of Oral Medicine .Hamilton,
Ontario 2002 BC Decker Inc