title: Punch biopsy of melanoma.
abstract: A 46-year-old albino woman is described with a melanoma on the leg from which a punch biopsy specimen was inadvertently taken. In the reexcision specimen, two biopsy wounds were recognized that were filled with tumor. The initial level III lesion had to be subsequently reported as a deep level IV amelanotic melanoma with an increased thickness. It is emphasized that in places where the subcutaneous fat is absent, punch or incision biopsy may thwart proper secondary excision.
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*