Preparation / Typical Procedure
The doctor performing the biopsy may ask in advance about any allergic reactions to anesthetic medications, about any blood thinner or anticoagulant medications you may be taking, or problems with bleeding in the past. Typically, there are no symptoms or conditions in a patient that would cause a physician to not perform a skin biopsy, but these questions help the doctor anticipate and better manage any potential complications (eg, excess bleeding). Otherwise, there is no special preparation needed prior to the procedure.
Once the area of interest is cleansed with alcohol or antiseptic solution, local anesthetic is injected in and around the skin lesion of interest using a syringe topped with a very fine needle. The skin biopsy is performed by the doctor using one of the methods described below, and the tissue removed is then placed in a bottle. Three commonly performed skin biopsy procedures are as follows:
- Shave biopsy – This is a superficial skin biopsy performed by a doctor where a thin layer is shaved off the surface of a lesion.
- Punch biopsy – A doctor removes a cylindrical sample to view layers of a lesion.
- Excisional biopsy – The doctor uses a scalpel to remove the entire visible portion of a lesion.
Expected Results
