What is the purpose of a bladder biopsy procedure?

Doctors perform a bladder biopsy procedure to check for cancer in a person's urethra or bladder, explains MedlinePlus. The biopsy results help doctors determine if a patient has cancer and how much the cancer has progressed.

Doctors typically perform a bladder biopsy procedure when a patient develops symptoms of bladder cancer. Common symptoms include frequent and painful urination, blood in the urine, and low back pain. Prior to undergoing a biopsy, patients generally undergo an imaging test, such as a CT scan, so doctors can check for tumors and other abnormalities, notes Healthline. The biopsy procedure takes approximately 20 minutes, and the results are often available within a few days.