title: Histologic comparison of canine skin biopsies collected using monopolar electrosurgery, CO2 laser, radiowave radiosurgery, skin biopsy punch, and scalpel.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the histologic appearance of canine skin biopsies collected by use of a scalpel, skin biopsy punch, monopolar electrosurgery, CO2 laser, and radio wave radiosurgery in fully rectified wave form (RWRS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental, randomized design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy adult grayhounds (n=4).
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin biopsies were collected using 5 techniques. Cut margins of biopsy specimens and adjacent peripheral skin were evaluated using light microscopy to compare penetration of the dermis by tissue carbonization (char).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No char occurred in skin specimens collected by biopsy punch and scalpel. Char penetration occurred in all specimens collected by electrosurgery, CO2 laser, and RWRS. Mean char penetration in skin biopsies collected by RWRS (0.158 mm) was significantly less than for monopolar electrosurgery (0.223 mm) and CO2 laser (0.215 mm). Mean char penetration in adjacent peripheral skin surrounding biopsies collected by RWRS (0.171 mm) was significantly less than monopolar electrosurgery (0.255 mm) but not less than CO2 laser (0.215 mm, P<.07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RWRS (blended waves in cut-coagulate mode) caused less lateral thermal damage to canine skin biopsies than monopolar electrosurgery and CO2 laser and less lateral thermal injury to peripheral skin than monopolar electrosurgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Excision of canine skin biopsies with heat-generating devices may not allow reliable histologic interpretation, particularly when assessing margins of small biopsy specimens. RWRS may be less traumatic to canine skin than monopolar electrosurgery and CO2 laser when used to make incisions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762-6100, USA. silverman@cvm.msstate.edu
authors.forename: Edward B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: Carolyn R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Ron M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery*; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D009336:Necrosis / Q000662:veterinary; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D013525:Surgical Instruments / Q000662:veterinary; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide