Biopsy of the pigmented lesions.
Although new technologies are becoming available to aid in diagnosis, the skin biopsy continues to be the fundamental tool of the dermatologist to evaluate the nature of a pigmented lesion. There are 3 major techniques for the biopsy of a pigmented lesion: shave biopsy, punch/incisional biopsy, and excisional biopsy. This article discusses when to biopsy a pigmented lesion and reviews the different biopsy techniques, with reference to specific clinical scenarios.
State University of New York at Stony Brook, East Setauket, NY 11733, USA.
David
D
Silverstein
Kavita
K
Mariwalla
D001706:Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology*; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*