Cervical punch biopsy; Biopsy - cervical punch; Biopsy of the cervix

A specialist called a pathologist will examine the tissue sample from the cervical biopsy and will report to your doctor whether the cells appear normal or abnormal.

Abnormal biopsy results may indicate problems, such as:

• Abnormal tissue or cell growth in the cervix (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia)
• Cancer

Colposcopy may be used to keep track of precancerous cells and look for abnormalities that come back after treatment. Problems that may be biopsied or monitored include:

• Abnormal patterns in the blood vessels
• Areas that are swollen, worn away, or wasted away (atrophic)
• Whitish patches on the cervix

Other findings may be signs of cervical polyps.

Images

Cervical biopsy

Colposcopy-directed biopsy

Uterus

Female reproductive anatomy

Cold cone biopsy

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Cervical biopsy Overview

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Cervical biopsy Risks

Review Date: 02/19/2008
Reviewed By: Peter Chen, MD, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)