title: Skin biopsy site selection in small animal dermatology with an introduction to histologic pattern-analysis of inflammatory skin lesions.
abstract: The skin biopsy is an invaluable diagnostic tool in veterinary dermatology. Biopsy site selection and interpretation of the biopsy report significantly influence the value of this procedure for diagnosing inflammatory skin diseases and are discussed in this article. Skin diseases often present with several different recognizable lesions that change significantly during their evolution. Individual lesions are typically heterogenous--some areas are diagnostic and some are not. Understanding which skin lesions to biopsy, and when and where to sample them, can significantly improve the value of information collected. To increase the information returned to clinicians for a biopsy, veterinary dermatopathologists have adopted the pattern-analysis method of classifying inflammatory skin lesions. This approach is based on recognizing morphologically distinct inflammatory patterns in skin biopsies and their association with particular sets of diseases. A basic knowledge of the pattern-analysis method is essential for maximizing the interpretation of skin biopsy reports.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Pathology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 4700 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Linder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D002415:Cats; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000662:veterinary*