vävnadsprover

Vävnadsprover, or tissue samples, are small pieces of tissue taken from the body for examination. This examination is typically performed under a microscope by a pathologist to diagnose diseases, particularly cancer, or to assess the health of an organ. The process of obtaining a vävnadsprov is called a biopsy.

Biopsies can be performed in several ways. A needle biopsy uses a fine needle to extract a small amount of tissue. An incisional biopsy removes a small part of a larger abnormal area, while an excisional biopsy removes the entire suspicious area. Surgical biopsies are performed during surgery and can involve removing a whole organ or a significant portion of it. Endoscopic biopsies are taken during procedures like gastroscopy or colonoscopy, where a flexible tube with a camera is inserted into the body.

Once collected, the vävnadsprov is sent to a laboratory. There, it is processed, often fixed in a preserving solution, embedded in wax, and sliced into very thin sections. These sections are then stained with special dyes to highlight different cellular structures. The pathologist examines the stained tissue under a microscope, looking for any abnormalities in cell shape, size, arrangement, and the presence of foreign elements like bacteria or viruses. The results of the vävnadsprov are crucial for determining the correct diagnosis and guiding treatment decisions.