Updated June 09, 2015.

Definition: A biopsy involves removing or cutting out a small piece of tissue in the area where cancer is suspected. The biopsied tissue is then specially prepared in the laboratory and examined through a microscope for the presence or absence of cancer cells and/or the type of cancer cells present. In the case of ovarian cancer, this usually means a surgical procedure in order to get inside the abdomen and pelvis.

Sometimes a biopsy can be performed using a long needle introduced through the skin into the abdomen, chest or lymph nodes where cancer cells may be suspected.

Examples: During surgery a biopsy was taken by the surgeon and the pathologist diagnosed ovarian cancer.