Final answer:
Cyst aspiration is the removal of fluid from a cyst, usually for diagnostic purposes, while a biopsy involves the surgical removal of tissue for lab analysis to diagnose conditions such as cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cyst aspiration refers to the procedure by which fluid is removed from a cyst. This can be done for various diagnostic purposes, including examination of the fluid to verify the absence or presence of cancer cells. A cyst is a closed pocket or pouch of tissue that can be filled with air, fluid, or other material. Aspiration is typically performed using a needle, and it may be guided by imaging techniques such as ultrasound to ensure correct placement. Contrary to complete surgical removal, which would entail excising the entire cyst or mass, aspiration involves only the extraction of fluid.
A biopsy, on the other hand, denotes the surgical removal of a tissue specimen for analysis in a medical laboratory. The purpose of a biopsy is often to diagnose conditions such as cancer, where it is necessary to evaluate tissue cells microscopically. A biopsy is important in confirming diagnoses of cancers like testicular and prostate cancer. Specific types of cancer, such as carcinomas which originate from epithelial cells, can also be identified and classified through biopsy analysis.