CANCER - The Brain - Biopsy |
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| A biopsy is the removal of a tiny
piece of tumour, so it can be sent to the hospital laboratory to find out which type of
tumour it is. The biopsy is likely to mean a few days in hospital as it usually involves an operation under a general anaesthetic, although it can be done under local anaesthetic. A further CT or MRI brain scan is then performed and the position of the tumour located to the nearest millimetre. During the operation a small hole, a burr hole, is made in the skull and a fine needle is then passed down to the tumour site and a tiny piece of it taken for examination by the pathologist. |