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Skin biopsy
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Skin biopsy is a common procedure in dermatology, and its goal is simple: to get a sample of skin tissue so it can be examined and a diagnosis can be reached. It is used to diagnose diseases of the skin itself, and also systemic diseases, meaning diseases of the whole body, that leave their mark on the skin or on the soft tissues underneath.
Every skin biopsy falls into one of two categories. An incisional biopsy takes only a portion of the lesion, a representative piece; it can be done by shave, with scissors, by curettage, which means scraping, or with a punch, a cylindrical instrument that lifts out a small plug of skin, the same way an apple corer takes out the center of an apple. The excisional biopsy is the second type: the entire visible lesion is removed, usually with a scalpel cutting through the full thickness of the skin, or with a deeper oblique excision.
Choosing between them is not a matter of preference. Among the most important factors are where the lesion sits, how deep the cut goes, and how wide the sample is.
In brief
Skin biopsy is a common diagnostic procedure in dermatology, indicated for skin diseases and for systemic diseases with skin or soft tissue manifestations.
Skin biopsies fall into two groups: incisional, which samples only part of the lesion, and excisional, which removes the entire visible lesion. Incisional biopsies use shave, scissors, curettage, or punch techniques; excisional ones are usually done with a full-thickness scalpel excision or a deeper oblique one.
Among the most important factors in choosing a technique are location, depth, and sample width.
Sources (1)
- National Center for Biotechnology InformationSkin Biopsy. StatPearls
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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