Biopsies & Mass/
Skin Excisions
A skin lesion biopsy
The skin biopsy is a relatively simple but essential procedure in the management of skin disorders
How it works
Unravel the mysteries of your skin and ensure its health with our Biopsies & Mass/Skin Excisions services at SootheMedical. Whether you’re looking to diagnose a skin condition or remove a mass or unusual skin growth, our experienced team can guide you safely through the process.
A mass or skin excision is a procedure to remove an unwanted or suspicious lump or area of skin. This may be done for both medical reasons, such as removing skin cancer, and cosmetic reasons, such as removing moles or skin tags. The surgical PA will use a scalpel to remove the entire mass or area of skin and then close the wound with stitches. This also provides a sample for biopsy if needed.
Before any of these procedures, the area will be cleaned and a local anesthetic will be applied to numb the area and ensure your comfort. The specific technique and process may vary depending on the location, size, and characteristics of the skin or mass to be biopsied or excised.
Why we love it!
Biopsies & Mass Skin Excisions can treat:
Skin Lesions and Growths: Mass/skin excisions are often used to remove unwanted or abnormal skin growths, including moles, skin tags, cysts, lipomas, and other benign (non-cancerous) lesions.
Skin Cancers: Both biopsies and excisions are crucial in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers. A biopsy can confirm the diagnosis of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
Inflammatory Skin Disorders: Skin biopsies can be useful in diagnosing a variety of inflammatory skin disorders, such as psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.
Infectious Diseases: Skin biopsies can help identify bacterial, fungal, or viral infections of the skin.
Suspicious Skin Changes: If you have changes in the skin that could suggest a serious condition (like skin cancer), including changes in the size, shape, or color of a mole, a skin biopsy can provide a definitive diagnosis.
Diagnosis
Procedure
Recovery
Background
Skin biopsy is performed in order to obtain tissue for further examination in the laboratory, typically through microscopy or tissue culture. Because of the relatively low risk of skin biopsy as compared with biopsy of other organs, and the ability to obtain a sample under simple local anesthesia, a skin biopsy can be safely and routinely performed in an outpatient or ambulatory setting, as well as an inpatient setting. The usual intent of skin biopsy is to further characterize the nature of a skin growth or eruption and assist in diagnosis by allowing histopathologic evaluation of a tissue sample.
After local anesthetic is administered, the tissue is removed and placed in a specimen container with an appropriate fixative, usually 10% formalin for permanent section diagnosis or Michel’s solution for immunofluorescence. The specimen is then sent to a pathology laboratory, where, after tissue fixation, slide preparation, and staining, a pathologist, dermatologist, or dermatopathologist can examine the specimen under a microscope.
Questions? We’ve Got Answers:
A skin biopsy can be performed using several methods, including shave biopsy, punch biopsy, or excision biopsy, depending on the type and location of the skin problem.
You might feel a slight sting from the injection of local anesthetic, but the biopsy or excision itself should not hurt. After the procedure, the area might be tender for a few days.
We will give you specific instructions on wound care, which usually includes keeping the area clean, applying a topical antibiotic, and changing bandages regularly. You may be advised to avoid strenuous activities for a few days.
Potential risks can include infection, bleeding, scarring, and an allergic reaction to the local anesthetic. In rare cases, a skin biopsy can miss a diagnosis if the lesion is not fully sampled.
