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A member asked:
If a dr thought a mole was melanoma, do they usually do an excision biopsy as opposed to a shave?
6 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Excisional biopsy: An excisional biopsy is often used when a wider or deeper portion of the skin is needed. Using a scalpel, or punch biopsy tool, a full thickness of skin is removed for further examination, and the wound is sutured. Superficial shave biopsies are generally discouraged for the removal of suspicious pigmented lesions since they may not allow for optimal pathologic interpretation of the skin sample
Answered 7/21/2014
3.9k views
Either is fine: The first step in melanoma diagnosis is to obtain a biopsy of the lesion. Whether this is performed as a punch biopsy or a shave biopsy doesn't seem to matter. The key is getting the tissue to the pathologist to make a diagnosis.
Answered 9/23/2014
3.7k views
Related Questions
A member asked:
How common is metastatic melanoma? mole removed for biopsy & scared.Dr.said dont lose sleep over it but it was 7mm and irregular.had 1 hair. Been yrs
A doctor has provided 1 answer
A member asked:
8mth ago 2-3mm mole accident scraped off. Now just scar no mole pigment. What if this was a melanoma. Dr no biopsy coz can't tell where mole was?
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A member asked:
When biopsied mole comes back atypical does this mean that the mole would have for sure turned into melanoma? Have had 2 "slightly atypical" - scared!
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Hello I had a mole removed biopsy came back severely dysplastic. Is it common for the pathologist to misread and it actually be melanoma? Or is there a distinct difference?
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A member asked:
I think I have melanoma. I have a mole that is very big and dark in the center. Biopsy or excise?
6 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
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