Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2016 Jan;74(1):1-16; quiz 17-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2015.06.033.

Skin biopsy: Biopsy issues in specific diseases

Dirk M Elston  1 , Erik J Stratman  2 , Stanley J Miller  3
Affiliations
Review

Skin biopsy: Biopsy issues in specific diseases

Dirk M Elston et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Jan.

Erratum in

  • Correction.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 Oct;75(4):854. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2016.06.056. Epub 2016 Jul 26. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016. PMID: 27473451 No abstract available.

Abstract

Misdiagnosis may result from biopsy site selection, technique, or choice of transport media. Important potential sources of error include false-negative direct immunofluorescence results based on poor site selection, uninformative biopsy specimens based on both site selection and technique, and spurious interpretations of pigmented lesions and nonmelanoma skin cancer based on biopsy technique. Part I of this 2-part continuing medical education article addresses common pitfalls involving site selection and biopsy technique in the diagnosis of bullous diseases, vasculitis, panniculitis, connective tissue diseases, drug eruptions, graft-versus-host disease, staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome, hair disorders, and neoplastic disorders. Understanding these potential pitfalls can result in improved diagnostic yield and patient outcomes.

Keywords: Stevens–Johnson syndrome; basal cell carcinoma; bullous diseases; connective tissue diseases and porphyria; cutaneous T-cell lymphoma; dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans; hair disorders; malignant melanoma; neoplasms; panniculitis; primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma; squamous cell carcinoma; staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome; toxic epidermal necrolysis; vasculitis.

PubMed Disclaimer