Which of the following is an example of an open biopsy?

• A. Incisional biopsy
• B. Fine needle aspiration
• C. Core biopsy
• D. Mammotome biopsy

Answer: (A)

An incisional biopsy is considered an example of an open biopsy because it involves the surgical removal of a portion of tissue from a lesion or suspicious area. In this procedure, an incision is made in the skin to access the tissue, allowing for a larger sample to be obtained compared to other biopsy techniques. This method is often employed when the mass is too large to be completely excised or when a definitive diagnosis is necessary before proceeding with further treatment.

In contrast, fine needle aspiration involves using a thin needle to withdraw fluid or tissue from a lesion, making it more minimally invasive and classified differently in the context of biopsy procedures. Core biopsy utilizes a larger needle to extract a core of tissue but does not typically involve a surgical incision in the same way open biopsy does. Mammotome biopsy is a type of vacuum-assisted core biopsy that also does not apply the surgical incision technique that defines open biopsies. Hence, the incisional biopsy stands out as the correct choice due to its surgical approach and the nature of tissue collection it entails.