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. 2008 Jul;1(2):107-11.
doi: 10.4103/0974-2077.44174.

Techniques of skin biopsy and practical considerations

Urmila Nischal, Nischal Kc, Uday Khopkar

Techniques of skin biopsy and practical considerations

Urmila Nischal et al. J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2008 Jul.

Abstract

Skin biopsy is a safe, easy and out-patient procedure of diagnostic and academic relevance. There are various methods of performing skin biopsy depending on the size of lesion, suspected clinical diagnosis and site of lesion. Although biopsy is usually a safe procedure, complications such as bleeding, infection and scarring may occasionally be encountered while performing biopsy in an out-patient with basic infrastructure. This article details the various techniques of skin biopsy, their indications and practical steps to curtail complications arising from the procedure.

Keywords: Skin biopsy; complications; mucosal biopsy; techniques.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Proper technique of holding the punch for performing punch biopsy
Figure 2
Figure 2
Technique of holding the blade between the index finger and the thumb to perform saucerization biopsy
Figure 3
Figure 3
Biopsy wound heals well if it extends till the junction of the reticular dermis and subcutis where the deep vascular plexus is situated
Figure 4
Figure 4
Schematic representation of the histopathologic picture of crush artifact caused by holding the biopsy tissue with forceps
Figure 5
Figure 5
Minimal handling of tissue during transferring the biopsy specimen into formalin bulb
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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