skin disorders
Diagnosis of Skin Disorders
Biopsy
Sometimes a biopsy, in which a small piece of skin is removed for examination under a microscope, must be done. For this simple procedure, the doctor generally numbs a small area of skin with a local anesthetic and, using a small knife (scalpel), scissors, razor blade (called a shave biopsy), or round cutter (called a punch biopsy), removes a piece of skin. The size of the piece is determined by the type of abnormal growth that is suspected, its location, and the type of tests to be done. Sometimes the doctor can both diagnose and treat a small tumor by removing the entire tumor along with a small border of normal skin around it (sometimes called an excisional biopsy). The tumor is sent to a laboratory for examination under a microscope. 