Gastric Biopsy

Gastric biopsy is the removal of stomach tissue for examination. This test may be done to diagnose a stomach ulcer or the cause of other stomach symptoms. They may include:

•  Loss of appetite or weight loss
•  Nausea and vomiting
•  Pain in the upper part of the belly
•  Black stools
•  Vomiting blood or coffee-ground like material

A gastric tissue biopsy can help detect:

• Cancer
• Infections, most commonly helicobacter pylori, which can cause stomach ulcers.

For additional information, access the web site at www.nlm.nih.gov.