Which procedure may involve obtaining a myocardial biopsy during catheterization?

Which procedure may involve obtaining a myocardial biopsy during catheterization?

• A. To obtain a myocardial biopsy
• B. To test blood glucose
• C. To measure airway resistance
• D. To perform colonoscopy

Answer: (A)

Taking a myocardial biopsy during catheterization is done when tissue diagnosis is needed. A small bioptome is passed through a catheter into the heart, usually the right ventricle, to sample endomyocardial tissue under fluoroscopic guidance. Histologic analysis of these samples can reveal myocarditis, infiltrative diseases, or help assess heart transplant rejection—situations where direct tissue evidence from the myocardium guides diagnosis and management. The other listed tasks aren’t performed by this catheter-based approach: testing blood glucose is a peripheral blood test, measuring airway resistance is a pulmonary function assessment, and colonoscopy examines the colon via GI endoscopy.

Taking a myocardial biopsy during catheterization is done when tissue diagnosis is needed. A small bioptome is passed through a catheter into the heart, usually the right ventricle, to sample endomyocardial tissue under fluoroscopic guidance. Histologic analysis of these samples can reveal myocarditis, infiltrative diseases, or help assess heart transplant rejection—situations where direct tissue evidence from the myocardium guides diagnosis and management. The other listed tasks aren’t performed by this catheter-based approach: testing blood glucose is a peripheral blood test, measuring airway resistance is a pulmonary function assessment, and colonoscopy examines the colon via GI endoscopy.