Punch biopsy for diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions.
Melanoma is a potentially fatal cancer with a relatively high incidence, but it can be cured if the lesions are removed at an early stage. Punch biopsy is a cosmetically acceptable, rapid method for removing small pigmented lesions to allow definitive pathologic diagnosis. The technique, which usually requires only a small amount of local anesthetic and no sutures, can be performed by a busy physician at the time the suspicious lesion is discovered.
Thompson
J M
JM
Foothills Provincial General Hospital, Calgary, Alberta.
Temple
W J
WJ
Lafreniere
R
R
Jerry
L M
LM
Ashley
P
P
D001706:Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*