Biopsy (tissue examination) of the mouth

In some cases, the lesion is so characteristic that the specialist can make the correct diagnosis without examining the tissue further. But in other cases, the specialist can decide that further microscopic examination of a tissue sample is required.

The term ‘biopsy’ makes many people think of a malignant tumour (cancer), but there are many other possible reasons for carrying out this examination, so there is no immediate cause for concern. A biopsy is also often carried out to provide peace of mind and reassurance that there is no cancer.

What are the possible reasons for tissue examination?

• To make a distinction between a benign and malignant lesion (cancer).
• To make a distinction between infections, inflammations and numerous other conditions that can cause very similar lesions in the mouth.
• To confirm or disprove a diagnosis. A correct diagnosis is after all the starting point for correctly informing you about the condition and the normal evolution of the lesion.
• To determine the correct course of treatment. Some lesions that look similar in the mouth may require completely different treatment.
• To give you a correct prognosis. Some perfectly benign lesions tend to recur after some time, for example, while others do not. This is why it’s important to make the correct diagnosis, so that you can be monitored correctly.