Obtaining an Adequate Specimen for the Diagnosis of Pigmented Lesions.

J Am Board Fam Med

From the Center for Dermatology Research, Department of Dermatology (AS, SRF); the Department of Pathology (SEW, SRF); the Department of Public Health Sciences (SRF); and the Department of Family and Community Medicine (CMM), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.

Published: April 2016

Melanoma is a common, potentially deadly disease but is curable if caught early. A specimen of a pigmented lesion must capture the entire width and depth of the lesion to evaluate the lesion's size, symmetry, and circumscription. Saucerization shaving, punching, and excision biopsy are 3 techniques that can be used to achieve a satisfactory specimen. Physicians should have a low threshold to biopsy a suspicious atypical pigmented lesion, but acceptable specimens are key in following through with an accurate diagnosis.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2015.04.150043DOI Listing

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