Which biopsy technique is best suited to obtain tissue for histology, including architectural features?

• A. Fine-needle aspiration
• B. Core biopsy
• C. Vacuum-assisted biopsy
• D. Excisional biopsy

Answer: (B)

Histology hinges on tissue architecture—the way cells are organized within ducts, lobules, and surrounding stroma, as well as patterns of invasion and tissue relationship. To study these features, you need a sample that preserves the actual structure of the tissue.

Fine-needle aspiration retrieves mostly cells with little surrounding architecture, so it’s excellent for cytology but not ideal when architectural detail is required. Excisional biopsy removes the whole lesion and certainly shows architecture, but it’s more invasive and often unnecessary just to get a diagnostic tissue core. Vacuum-assisted biopsy can collect larger tissue samples and preserves architecture as well, but the standard approach that reliably provides representative tissue with preserved architecture while remaining minimally invasive is a core needle biopsy.

Thus, core biopsy is best suited for obtaining tissue suitable for histology with architectural features.