A biopsy is the only way to confirm whether a tumour, if one is found, is cancerous. Sometimes a biopsy is taken during a laparoscopy. Otherwise, it will be done by needle biopsy.

You will be given a local anaesthetic, and then a needle will be put under your skin to allow a small tissue sample to be taken for examination under a microscope.

X-ray and ultrasound or CT scanning equipment is used to guide the process. It is carried out by a specially trained radiologist. A local anaesthetic is injected to numb your abdomen. You will also be given a sedative and painkillers.

It is usually carried out as day procedure.

You may have a little pain and bleeding in the area where the needle was inserted. There is a low risk that the procedure can leave cancer cells behind in the needle hole, causing a secondary tumour to grow there.

Needle biopsy is sometimes called fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC).