What it is used for

Doctors use biopsy needles to investigate:

• lumps or tumors
• suspected cancer
• infections
• liver disease
• kidney disease
• bone marrow disorders
• breast, thyroid, prostate, or lymph node abnormalities

How it works

The needle is inserted into the target tissue, often with guidance from:

• ultrasound
• CT scan
• MRI

A small tissue sample is removed and sent to a laboratory for testing by a pathologist.