EXCISIONAL BIOPSY

Course overview

IN DERMATOLOGY, SKIN BIOPSIES ARE ESSENTIAL TO ASSIST IN MAKING A CORRECT DIAGNOSIS AND FOR THERAPEUTIC PLANNING. SEVERAL TYPES OF SKIN BIOPSY TECHNIQUES EXIST, INCLUDING SHAVE, SAUCERIZATION, CURETTAGE, SNIP, INCISIONAL AND EXCISIONAL BIOPSY. AN EXCISIONAL BIOPSY IS DEFINED BY THE PROCESS OF COMPLETELY REMOVING A SOLITARY SKIN LESION. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE INDICATIONS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, AND TECHNIQUE INVOLVED IN PERFORMING AN EXCISIONAL BIOPSY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE CARE OF PATIENTS REQUIRING EXCISIONAL BIOPSIES.