HSP | Harley Surgical Practice

Skin & Subcutaneous Biopsy

A biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.

A skin lesion biopsy is when a small amount of skin is removed so it can be examined. The skin is tested to look for skin conditions or diseases. A skin biopsy can help your health care provider diagnose or rule out problems such as skin cancer or psoriasis.

Most procedures can be done in outpatient surgical clinic. There are several ways to do a skin and subcutaneous biopsy. Which procedure you have depends on the location, size, and type of lesion. A lesion is an abnormal area of the skin. This can be a lump, sore, or an area of skin color that is not normal. Before a biopsy, your provider will numb the area of skin so you don't feel anything. The different types of skin biopsies are described below.

Shave Biopsy
It is uses a small blade or razor to remove or scrape the outermost layers of skin.
All or part of the lesion is removed.
Not need stitches. This procedure will leave a small indented area.
This type of biopsy is often done when a skin cancer is suspected, or a rash that seems to be limited to the top layer of skin.

Punch Biopsy
It is uses a cookie cutter-like skin punch tool to remove deeper layers of skin. The area removed is about the shape and size of a pencil eraser.
If an infection or immune disorder is suspected, your provider may perform more than one biopsy. One of the biopsies is examined under the microscope, the other is sent to the lab for testing such as for germs (skin culture).
It includes all or part of the lesion. You may have stitches to close the area.
This type of biopsy is often done to diagnose rashes.

Excisional Biopsy
A surgeon uses a surgical knife (scalpel) to remove the entire lesion. This may include deep layers of skin and fat.
The area is closed with stitches to place the skin back together.
If a large area is biopsied, the surgeon may use a skin graft or flap to replace the skin that was removed.
This type of biopsy is most commonly done when a kind of skin cancer called melanoma is suspected.

Incisional Biopsy
This procedure takes a piece of a large lesion.
A piece of the growth is cut and sent to the lab for examination. You may have stitches, if needed.
After diagnosis, the rest of the growth can be treated.
This type of biopsy is most commonly done to help diagnose skin ulcers or diseases that involve the tissue below the skin, such as the fatty tissue.