Endoscopic Biopsy

During a biopsy

As normal procedure for an endoscopic examination, you will receive pain medication and a sedative. Depending on where the suspicious area is, your doctor will insert an endoscope into your mouth or a colonoscope through your rectum.

Depending on what your doctor finds, he or she may use biopsy forceps to collect a tissue sample (biopsy) to test for certain diseases.

Are there any risks to a biopsy?

As with any medical procedure, there are risks and you should talk to your doctor about what they are. Your doctor will be able to explain the risks and answer any questions you may have.

Potential complications with a biopsy include, but are not limited to, bleeding or perforation.

Recovery period for a biopsy

Recovery times may vary, depending on the disease being treated. A procedure can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 1 hour. You should be able to go home the same day.

This reference text contains information about a specific procedure and is provided by Boston Scientific Corporation for reference only. Please talk to your doctor about complete procedural information, potential risks, and questions you may have.

References

1. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), Upper Endoscopy. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/upperendoscopy/index/htm accessed 1/15/07, Updated November 2004. Pub#05-4333.
2. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), Colonoscopy. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/upperendoscopy/index/htm accessed 1/15/07, Updated November 2005. Pub#05-4336.