A biopsy is a sample of tissue taken from the body in order to examine it more closely. A biopsy is recommended when an initial test suggests an area of tissue in the body isn’t normal. The suspicious area may be noticed during a physical examination or internally on an imaging test.

A lesion is any abnormal damage or change in the tissue of an organism, usually caused by disease or trauma. In some cases, a biopsy is done to diagnose a problem or to help determine the best therapy option.