Skin Biopsy
Explanation
A skin biopsy removes a piece of skin for examination in a laboratory. It can help identify inflammation, infection or cancer. Having a biopsy does not by itself mean that you have cancer.
How is the sample taken?
A shave biopsy cuts away a layer of skin; the depth can vary. A punch biopsy uses a small round tool to remove a deeper cylinder of skin. An excisional biopsy cuts out the whole visible area being investigated, sometimes with a border of nearby skin.
The choice depends on the skin change and what the doctor needs to find out. These names describe how tissue is taken, not the diagnosis.
What does the laboratory look for?
A pathologist, a doctor who examines tissue, studies the sample under a microscope. The findings may help explain a rash or identify an infection, a noncancerous growth or cancer. Your doctor relates the findings to the appearance of your skin and your symptoms.
Does a biopsy remove the whole problem?
Some biopsies take only a sample. Even after an excisional biopsy, whether any further removal or treatment is needed depends on the laboratory result. The procedure name alone does not confirm that all cancer cells have been removed.
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