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Biopsy
The most common intervention during GI Endoscopy is biopsy. Biopsy is the collection of a small sample of tissue from the lining (mucosa) of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine or large intestine. These samples are taken with a small pincer-like forceps, and such biopsies are not painful. Any area where there is suspicion of abnormality or disease may be biopsied. These biopsies are usually submitted to a pathologist for examination with a microscope, but they may also be taken for microbiologic (bacterial, viral, fungal) testing. Biopsies are not taken only to look for cancer. It is more common that the biopsies are taken for evaluation of inflammation or of other benign (non-cancerous) abnormalities.
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