What are the Limitations of Tissue Biopsies in Epidemiology?
While tissue biopsies are invaluable, they do have limitations:
- Invasive Nature: Biopsies are invasive and carry risks such as infection and bleeding. - Sampling Error: It’s possible that the biopsy might miss the diseased tissue, leading to false negatives. - Limited Sample Size: The small amount of tissue may not fully represent the disease, especially in heterogeneous conditions. - Availability: Access to biopsy services can be limited in resource-poor settings, affecting the comprehensiveness of epidemiological data.
