Priyam Bordoloi, Internal Medicine Resident, shared on X:
“Biopsy is how doctors confirm almost all cancers. But in a few rare cases, poking the tumor with a needle is the worst thing you can do. It can actually burst the cancer open and spread it to the rest of the body.
Here are 3 cancers we NEVER biopsy:
1. Testicular Cancer
A needle alters how the body’s fluid drains. Instead of staying contained, cancer cells can get dragged into new lymph nodes in the groin. The strict rule here: remove the whole testicle surgically upfront.
2. Wilms Tumor (Kidney cancer in children)
This tumor has a very fragile outer shell. Puncturing it risks bursting it like a water balloon, spilling cancer cells into the abdomen. This turns an early, curable tumor into an advanced one needing heavy radiation.
3. Ovarian Cancer
If a suspicious ovarian cyst is poked, it can pop and leak cancer fluid all over the inside of the belly. This instantly transforms a localized, highly curable case into one that suddenly demands chemotherapy.”