A biopsy is a sample of tissue taken from the body in order to examine it more closely. A

doctor should recommend a biopsy when an initial test suggests an area of tissue in the body

isn't normal.

Doctors may call an area of abnormal tissue a lesion, a tumor, or a mass. These are general

words used to emphasize the unknown nature of the tissue. The suspicious area may be

noticed during a physical examination or internally on an imaging test.