![]() If we suspect cancer or if you have a rash that could look like more than one condition, you often need the biopsy to get the right answer. This allows us to examine the issues that may exist deeper in the skin (in the blood vessels or fat) that we cannot see by doing a surface scrape. ![]() In these cases, we use a different device (called a trephine) that allows us to remove a plug of skin up to one centimeter in depth. We need to go deeper to accurately diagnose. The width of the removed area can vary, but overall this biopsy heals quickly with minimal scarring. Using a razor blade, we shave off a thin piece of skin (about 1-3 mm in depth) for further examination. Skin biopsy procedures include removing a small portion or the entire skin lesion. For relatively superficial spots, where the answer lies near the surface of the skin… To determine the depth of the spot and which procedure is best, we first examine suspect places under a dermatoscope (a handheld dermatological microscope). Is it eczema, psoriasis, an autoimmune disease, or bedbug bites? If it’s not obvious based on history and visual inspection alone, the dermatologist will biopsy the area to determine the diagnosis.ĭermatologists biopsy in one of two ways, depending on the area. So, we remove the growth to determine the most accurate diagnosis.Īnother patient might present a rash. If a patient comes in with a mole, the dermatologist can closely examine the mole and suspect it may be skin cancer or a spot that could later become a cancer – but without a biopsy, we can’t know for sure. ![]() Dermatologists biopsy an area to confirm a diagnosis that cannot be rendered with the eyes alone. A biopsy is the removal of a piece of skin to help render a diagnosis of skin cancers or inflammatory conditions.
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