Needle-guided shave excision with ultrasonographic assistance: a new technique.
BACKGROUND
A lack of control in the deep margin of shave excision is a drawback of this technique.


OBJECTIVE
To describe a more precise shaving technique by sonography with the use of a fine injector needle as a depth marker.


METHODS
After having examined the invasion levels of 40 benign skin lesions, a fine injector needle was intentionally threaded into the dermis horizontally just beneath the required shaving plane. Correct placement of the needle was ensured by sonographic examination after possible reinsertion trials. Large lesions needed several needles to be inserted. The tissue above the needles was then shaved off, whereas the deep dermal layer was protected.


RESULTS
Histologic examination revealed that 77% of superficial and intermediate-thickness lesions were removed totally without disturbing the derma-fat junction.


CONCLUSIONS
The needle-guided technique was found to be effective in the control of the deep margin of shave excision.
Seyhan
Ahmet
A
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Celal Bayar University, Medical Faculty, Manisa 45010, Turkey. ahmetseyhan@hotmail.com
Tarhan
Serdar
S
Türkdoğan
Peyker
P
D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009339:Needles; D009506:Nevus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods; D014463:Ultrasonography