[When only the pathologist may help. Limitation and possibilities of biopsies in Internal Medicine]

Histological evaluation after biopsy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of numerous diseases in Internal Medicine. The gastrointestinal tract (e. g. esophagus, liver and large intestine), the kidneys or bone marrow are organs, where biopsy-driven diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutic regimens are of major relevance. Improvement in blood analysis, endoscopic techniques and radiology could significantly reduce the number of biopsies. Hence under certain circumstances, the risk of biopsy can be avoided and non-invasive markers can sufficiently substitute the histological evaluation. However, histological evaluation derived from biopsies remains the standard of diagnosis in many cases in Internal Medicine. In the present review the current standards and future developments of pathologic diagnosis through biopsy are illustrated.