A biopsy is primarily defined as what type of medical procedure?

A biopsy is primarily defined as a surgical removal of tissue for diagnosis. This procedure involves extracting a small sample of tissue from the body, which is then examined under a microscope to determine the presence of disease, including cancer, infections, or other abnormalities. The primary purpose of a biopsy is to provide a definitive diagnosis based on the cellular composition and structure of the tissue sample analyzed.

The other options involve related but distinctly different medical interventions. The removal of an organ for testing suggests a more extensive procedure than a biopsy, as it implies taking out an entire organ rather than just a small tissue sample. A blood test for pathogen detection focuses on analyzing blood rather than tissue, which is not what a biopsy entails. Similarly, a radiological examination for tumors refers to imaging techniques, such as X-rays or MRIs, to visualize abnormalities rather than physically extracting tissue for diagnosis.