Alale is the most powerfull center in medical tourism - All you need to Know about Skin Biopsy

What is a skin biopsy

A skin biopsy is the removal of a piece of skin for the purpose of further examination in the laboratory using a microscope. Skin biopsies are performed to diagnose a number of conditions. Biopsies are not meant to actually treat a skin condition.

Skin biopsies most often are done to diagnose skin cancer, which may be suspected when an abnormal area of skin has changed color, shape, size, or appearance or has not healed after an injury. Skin cancers are the most common type of cancers.

Early diagnosis of a suspicious skin lesion and skin biopsy can help identify skin cancers and lead to early treatment.

Why It Is Done

A skin biopsy is done to diagnose a:

• Skin condition (if it is not already clear what the condition is), such as psoriasis.
• Disease, such as skin cancer.
• Bacterial or fungal skin infection.

Types

Three main types of skin biopsies are:

• Shave biopsy. A doctor uses a tool similar to a razor to remove a small section of the top layers of skin (epidermis and a portion of the dermis).
• Punch biopsy. A doctor uses a circular tool to remove a small section of skin including deeper layers (epidermis, dermis and superficial fat).
• Excisional biopsy. A doctor uses a small knife (scalpel) to remove an entire lump or an area of abnormal skin, including a portion of normal skin down to or through the fatty layer of skin.

How a Skin Lesion Biopsy Is Performed

A skin lesion biopsy requires little preparation from you. If you’re having a biopsy done on an open wound or infected patch of skin, your doctor will have to remove any bandaging.

There are several ways your doctor may remove a sample of tissue. The method your doctor chooses for you will depend on the reason for the biopsy location, size, and type of your lesion or sore.

Before any type of biopsy, you’ll receive local anesthesia to numb the biopsy site. Possible methods of collecting a skin sample for biopsy include the following.

• Shave biopsy: Your doctor will remove only the outermost layers of your skin with a special razor blade or scalpel.
• Punch biopsy: This uses a small, tube-like instrument with a sharp end that works like a cookie cutter. Once the right sample is taken, your doctor will remove the skin sample with tweezers and close the incision with a single stitch.
• Excisional biopsy: This is used to remove the entire lesion. Your doctor makes an incision and, going as deeply as necessary, removes the entire lesion. Several stitches are used to close the wound.
• Incisional biopsy: This is used to remove a small part of a larger lesion. The procedure is the same as with the excisional biopsy.

If your doctor suspects that a growth is caused by the most aggressive form of skin cancer (melanoma), they will use an excisional biopsy to remove any potentially cancerous tissue along with a small border of healthy skin. The sample will then be sent to the lab for testing.

After the biopsy, the wound will be covered with gauze and other bandaging. You’ll be able to go home once the sample has been taken.

Risks

A skin biopsy is a generally safe procedure, but complications can occur, including:

• Bleeding
• Bruising
• Scarring
• Infection
• Allergic reaction to the topical antibiotic

What to expect

Depending on the location of the skin biopsy, you may be asked to undress and change into a clean gown. A doctor or nurse then cleans the area of the skin to be biopsied. Your skin may be marked with a surgical marker or marking pen to outline the biopsy area.

You then receive a local anesthetic to numb the biopsy site. This is usually given by injection with a thin needle. The numbing medication can cause a burning sensation in the skin for a few seconds. Afterward, the biopsy site is numb and you shouldn't feel any pain or discomfort during the skin biopsy.

Results

A skin biopsy is a procedure in which a sample of skin tissue is removed, processed, and examined under a microscope.

Results from a skin biopsy usually are available in 3 to 10 days.

Your doctor will talk with you about any abnormal results that may be related to your symptoms and past health.

What Affects the Test

Taking medicines, such as anti-inflammatory medicines, those used for fungal infections (antifungal medicines), and corticosteroid skin creams, can interfere with your test or the accuracy of the results.

Sources

Perez M, Lodha R, Nouri K. Skin biopsy techniques. In: Nouri K, Leal-Khouri S, editors. Techniques in dermatologic surgery. St. Louis: Mosby; 2003. pp. 75–80.

Fisher MM, Pennington JC. Allergy to local anaesthesia. Br J Anaesth. 1982; 54:893–4.

Christoph RA, Buchanan L, Begalla K, Schwartz S. Pain reduction in local anesthetic administration through pH buffering. Ann Emerg Med. 1988; 17:117–20.

Hruza GJ. Anesthesia. In: Bolognia JL, Jorizzo FL, Rapini RP, editors. Dermatology. New York: Elsevier Science; 2003. pp. 2233–42.

10. Mutalik S. How to make local anesthesia less painful? J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2008; 1:37–8.

11. Atal-Shah R. Anaesthesia in dermatosurgery. In: Satish S, editor. Textbook of Dermatosurgery and Cosmetology. 2nd ed. Mumbai: ASCAD; 2005. pp. 53–64.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, emedicinehealth, healthline, medicinenet, webmd