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A member asked:
If nodular melanoma was picked off. would a biopsy of the underlying tissue a few months later still be accurate to make a diagnosis.
8 doctors weighed in across 3 answers
Possibly: Depending on the depth the melanoma, a biopsy of the area could detect abnormal cells. Best to see a dermatologist as soon as possible.
Answered 9/17/2014
3.7k views
??: Melanoma is a skin cancer that penetrates into the skin. It will not be able to be 'picked off'. See your doctor to see if a biopsy is needed.
Answered 3/27/2016
3.7k views
Yes: Even though it might look like it was completely picked off, you can still have residual melanoma in the same spot. You absolutely need to have not just a biopsy, but an excision of the skin area to decrease the chance of the melanoma growing back. Depending on how deep the melanoma is/was, you may also need to have a few lymph nodes removed to make sure the cancer hasn't spread.
Answered 9/23/2014
3.7k views
Related Questions
A member asked:
Biopsy on 3 toenails with longitudinal streaks. No evidence of melanocytes (melanoma) or fungus. Consistent with scar tissue. Patho and Dr stumped???
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A member asked:
Had scaly lesion frozen off- 2 days later I panicked and asked for biopsy- 4mm punch. If it was melanoma would it still show up under the frozen skin?
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I have been diagnosed with melanoma in situ. I had a shave biopsy. What are the chances after surgery my diagnosis will be upstaged?
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If I had a shave biopsy and the underlying skin wasn't brown does that mean the melanoma did not spread down into the lower skin?
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A member asked:
Can the area where a mole was previously removed be re-biopsied? Anyway to find out if melanoma is below the skin?
2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
People also searched for:
Is a biopsy done on susp. Nodular melanoma or is it removed straight away? I have a 7mm wide black spot on toe and its scaring me witless
Derm biopsied possible nodular melanoma via shave instead of excision. Will results be valid? Any chance a tingling raised mole could be benign?
Picked off mole (maroon, black tissue initially mistook as blood blister)what I realized later looked exactly= Nodular melanoma. Would bx still be accurate for diagnosis since I picked off visible lesion.
I wanna ask a final question. How accurate is a skin biopsy for melanoma..?
I have had weird pain and itching for 2 months. had biopsy a month ago. my derma still havent gave me results. im scared its melanoma?
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