For known tumors, this biopsy is performed to assess the effect of treatment or to obtain tissue for special studies.

Duchenne was the first who did a biopsy to obtain tissue from a living patient for microscopic examination.

Surgery is reserved only for large symptomatic lesions or for obtaining tissue with an unknown primary.

Surgery plays a critical role in obtaining tissue to make an accurate diagnosis.

Dr. Sullivan said, "I would be against abortions to obtain tissue for fetal research."

To obtain enough tissue, he said, multiple abortions must be scheduled for within hours of the five-hour fetal implant operation.

Even so, forensic workers can often obtain usable tissue by cutting into deep muscle.

Furthermore, castrations were approved in order to obtain testicular tissue for research purposes.

It is important to obtain fresh tissue, whenever possible, for cytogenetics and molecular pathology.

Tests to be sure involve surgery to obtain tissue and would not be warranted in this case, experts said.