title: To scoop or not to scoop: the diagnostic and therapeutic utility of the scoop-shave biopsy for pigmented lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Concern over transection of melanomas has inhibited many practitioners from using the scoop-shave for removal of pigmented lesions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the safety and efficacy of the scoop-shave for pigmented lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The practitioner's clinical diagnosis, intent (sample or completely remove), and removal technique (excision, punch, shave biopsy, or scoop-shave) were recorded. Pathology results including the status of the peripheral and deep margins were subsequently documented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over an 8-month period, 333 procedures were performed. Of the 11 melanomas (6 in situ and 5 invasive) removed by the scoop-shave, none had positive deep margins and 6 (2 in situ and 4 invasive) were completely removed. One of the 50 dysplastic nevi removed by scoop-shave had a positive deep margin (moderately dysplastic). Forty-six dysplastic nevi were completely removed by the scoop-shave. When the practitioner's intent was "complete removal," the lesion was completely removed 73.1% of the time by scoop-shave, 91% by standard excision, 18.1% by shave biopsy, and 78.6% by punch excision (p < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The scoop-shave is a safe and effective technique for diagnosis and treatment of melanocytic lesions.
authors.affiliation: *Mystic Valley Dermatology, Stoneham, Massachusetts; †Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; ‡Division of Dermatology, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts; §Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center; and ‖Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mendese
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maloney
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bordeaux
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*