Intralesional (incision) biopsy for melanoma diagnosis: the rules and the exception.
Intralesional (incision) biopsy for melanoma diagnosis can be warranted for large lesions or for those lesions whose in-toto excision leads to cosmetic and/or functional impairment. However, this diagnostic approach carries a risk of underdiagnosis, if a clinicopathologic diagnostic approach is not implemented. As a rule, in large pigmented lesions from special body areas (scalp and acral skin), clinicodermoscopic differential diagnosis of melanoma includes non-melanocytic skin lesions, traumatic skin changes, and nevi. The unique indication to incision biopsy for the differential diagnosis between nevus and melanoma is a relatively small nodular proliferation developing within a medium-large congenital nevus.
Unit of Dermatology and Skin Cancer - elvira.moscarella@gmail.com.
Elvira
E
Moscarella
st Medical Department, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova Institute for Research and Care, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Argenziano
Department of Dermatology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Claudia
C
Moreno
Department of Dermatology, Clinical Hospital University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Simonetta
S
Piana
Unit of Dermatology and Skin Cancer.
Aimilios
A
Lallas
Unit of Dermatology and Skin Cancer.
Mara
M
Lombardi
Unit of Dermatology and Skin Cancer.
Caterina
C
Longo
Department of Dermatopathology, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova Institute for Research and Care, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Gerardo
G
Ferrara
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D046169:Dermoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology