A whole organ or a whole lump is removed. Some types of tumors (such as lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphocyte blood cells) have to be examined by excision of the whole organ (eg. Lymph nodes in case of Lymphoma) to allow an accurate diagnosis, enlarged lymph nodes are entirely excised for diagnostic accurately.

Excisional biopsy of the whole breast lumps is encouraged by doctors to ensure diagnostic accuracy. Some organs, such as the spleen, are dangerous if removed partly, as they are very vascular organ and found to bleed excessively hence, whole organ is removed.