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Apr 21, 2023 · You might have a needle biopsy rather than surgery if your health care team is worried that an operation might hurt an important part of your brain. A needle might be needed to remove tissue from a brain tumor if the tumor is in a spot that's hard to reach with surgery. Brain biopsy has a risk of complications.
Biopsy: While imaging tests may show an area where there may be a brain tumor, doctors need a tissue sample to definitively diagnose a primary brain tumor. Tissue samples are retrieved through a biopsy. Doctors can perform a biopsy by removing a small sample of tissue with a needle or removing all or part of a tumor through surgery.
Depending on the location and type of tumor, a biopsy is not always possible. Often, if a tumor is large or causing pressure on part of the brain, the neurosurgeon will advise removing the entire tumor and performing a biopsy as part of that larger procedure.
Biopsy and Grading of Brain Tumors. If imaging tests confirm that a brain tumor or mass is present, a biopsy is typically performed. A biopsy removes a very small piece of the tumor tissue to determine the tumor type. The tumor sample is analyzed by our neuropathologists in collaboration with your medical oncologist and neurosurgeon.
In some cases, a biopsy isn't needed because other tests show that the tumor is very likely not cancer. In other cases, a biopsy may not be possible because of where the tumor is. Learn more about the 2 types of biopsies below.
Mar 29, 2024 · MRI scans provide a more detailed picture of the brain and meningiomas. Sometimes, a sample of the tumor sent to a lab for study, called a biopsy, may be needed to rule out other types of tumors and confirm a meningioma diagnosis.
