How to Pronounce Core Needle Biopsy
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Core Needle Biopsy Pronunciation
KOR NEE-dul BY-op-see
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
KOR NEE
stress here
dul BY
op
see
4 syllables
What is Core Needle Biopsy?
A minimally invasive procedure in which a hollow needle is used to remove a small cylindrical core of tissue from a suspicious lump or mass for laboratory analysis. It provides more tissue than a fine needle aspiration while being less invasive than surgical biopsy.
Questions About Core Needle Biopsy
How do you pronounce 'core needle biopsy'?
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Say it like this: KOR NEE-dul BY-op-see. The first word rhymes with 'door,' the second word sounds like 'needle' (the sewing kind), and the third word is broken into four syllables with the stress on the first one: BY-op-see.
Which syllable do you stress when saying 'core needle biopsy'?
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The stress falls on the first syllable of 'biopsy'—say it as BY-op-see, not by-OP-see or by-op-SEE. A common mistake is stressing the middle syllable instead, but the emphasis should land on that opening 'BY' sound.
How do you break 'core needle biopsy' into syllables?
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Here's how it divides: CORE (1) NEE-dul (2) BY-op-see (3). That gives you 5 syllables total: CORE / NEE / DUL / BY / OP / SEE.
What does the word 'biopsy' actually mean?
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'Biopsy' comes from two Greek word parts: 'bio' means life, and 'opsy' means to see or look at. So a biopsy literally means 'looking at living tissue'—it's a sample of tissue taken and examined under a microscope to understand what's going on.
What does 'core' mean in 'core needle biopsy'?
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'Core' in this context means a solid, cylindrical piece—like the core of an apple. This tells you that the needle collects a rod-shaped sample of tissue, not just a few loose cells.
Is there a short way to write or say 'core needle biopsy'?
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Yes, doctors often shorten it to CNB, which you say by spelling out the letters: C-N-B. You might also hear it called just a 'core biopsy' for short, pronounced CORE BY-op-see.
What other medical words use the root 'bio'?
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Several words share that 'bio' root meaning life, including 'biology' (the study of life), 'biomarker' (a life sign that doctors look for), and 'biopsy' itself. Anytime you see 'bio' in a medical word, think 'life.'
How would you use 'core needle biopsy' in a sentence?
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You might hear: 'The doctor recommended a core needle biopsy to get a better look at the lump.' This sentence shows that the term refers to a specific type of procedure that gathers tissue samples.

