Oral biopsy. A prospective study on 286 consecutive procedures.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to survey oral biopsy procedures, with particular regard to the incidence of adverse events, patients experience and adequacy of the sample.


METHODS
This prospective survey was conducted by collecting detailed information from consecutive patients undergoing oral biopsy; data were obtained on the same day of oral biopsy and after 7 days.


RESULTS
Data on 286 procedures were collected. About half of the patients had a relevant medical history and were taking one or more medications. During biopsy, the majority of patients (83%) felt no pain, the others reported mild discomfort. Intraoperative adverse events occurred occasionally (4.5%) and were always easily resolved; 18% patients admitted taking painkillers in the days following surgery. The pathologist was always able to make histological diagnosis, although some samples did not include healthy mucosa (32%) or connective tissue (11%).


CONCLUSIONS
Oral biopsy is a safe and well accepted surgical procedure.
Lodi
G
G
Unit of Oral Medicine and Pathology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. giovanni.lodi@unimi.it
Sardella
A
A
Demarosi
F
F
Canegallo
L
L
Moneghini
L
L
D'Orefice
S
S
Carrassi
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000473:pathology*; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies