Skin biopsy: indications, technique, results

Medical manipulations in many patients cause panic. They do not understand the terms and the essence of the procedure is unclear. Some even refuse the necessary analyzes, guided by the opinion of homegrown experts-neighbors or getting under the influence of stereotypes. But just something you need to talk with your doctor, ask for more details about the purpose. For example, if a skin biopsy is offered to a patient, then he should understand that this procedure is assigned to clarify the diagnosis and to be able to overcome the disease at an early stage.

Biopsy of the skin - what is it?

A biopsy is called a diagnostic procedure, in which a piece of living material is taken to further study its cellular composition. Accordingly, a skin biopsy is an excision for examining a piece of skin.

The material for the study can be obtained in several ways:

• Shaving;
• Trepanobiopsy;
• Ex post.

The choice of method depends on the suspected disease, but in all cases the procedure is performed by a sterile, often single-use instrument.

Indications for a skin biopsy

Histological examination of biopsy material (biopsy) can be prescribed in the following cases:

• When diagnosing bacterial, fungal, viral diseases;
• For determining benign formations;
• For the specification of malignant education;
• To check the result after removal of the tumor;
• With suspected lupus;
• With suspected skin tuberculosis;
• At psoriatic plaques;
• With scleroderma, amyloidosis, reticulosis;
• In the presence of deep mycosis;
• When the disease is nodular periarteritis;
• For the diagnosis of Darya's disease;
• As a control of treatment.

The maximum number of appointments is detection of oncological neoplasms. Noticing the change in pigmentation or deterioration of the healing of the veins, the doctor prefers to prescribe a biopsy to be able to conduct treatment at an early stage of development.

Who makes the appointment?

Skin diseases should be referred to a dermatologist. If the problem is not obvious, but the patient feels uncomfortable, then he should consult a therapist. After the examination, the therapist-diagnostician will send to the right specialist. He will tell you where to do a skin biopsy.

What is the biopsy instrument?

As already mentioned, there are several methods by which a biopsy is performed. Depending on this, the necessary equipment and tools are selected. In most cases, this is an individual kit containing a cannula with a hole, a probe and a movable tube with a protrusion to hold the tissue sample.

Puncture biopsy is performed with a needle of the required diameter. It can be a special thin syringe, an automatic system with a spring mechanism or a vacuum needle.

In many cases, a skin biopsy is performed by curettage. In this case, the tool is an annular curette or surgical spoon. These tools differ in the diameter of the gripping surface.

Method of conducting. Shaving skin biopsy

A shaving biopsy is performed with a scalpel or medical blade. In this case, a surface cut is performed at the focus of the thickening. The cut out protruding part of the pathological neoplasm is placed in a container with formalin solution. And the site of manipulation is covered with a sterile napkin. The procedure, as in other cases, is performed under local anesthesia.

Trepanobiopsy

In this case, a histological examination of the biopsy material taken from the center of the affected area is performed. The skin of the skin and subcutaneous fat is punctured by a trepanation needle, rotated and extracted. Then it is picked up with tweezers and cut at the required level. On the wound surface, not exceeding 3 mm, a sterile patch is applied. With a larger diameter of the wound, a seam is applied.

Excisional biopsy

This method excludes the lesion with an adjacent healthy area of the skin. The method is effective for detecting malignant tumors. The remaining wound is covered with a sterile napkin, but if the wound site is large, then it is sutured or covered with a skin graft.

Individual tools for skin biopsy do not reuse. All dressings should be sterile. The result of the analysis is ready in 1-4 weeks. The term depends on the complexity of processing the biopsy.

Biopsy for psoriasis

Many patients believe that psoriasis can be diagnosed without testing for a characteristic appearance. However, skin biopsy with psoriasis is necessary to exclude other pathologies. In the severe course of the process, the Reeta body is present in the biopsy specimen, which is a manifestation of histological immaturity and a thickening of the keratinocyte layer.

When the material is withdrawn for examination, spot bleeding is visible under the plaque. This is evidence of the pathology of vascular permeability at the site of injury. In addition, it allows to identify accelerated angiogenesis.

Preparation for research

Complex preparation for skin biopsy is not required. Before the procedure, a doctor should be informed of the anti-inflammatory drugs used, allergic reactions and propensities to bleeding. Women need to warn their doctor about pregnancy.

Recovery after the procedure

To the place of withdrawal of the sample, you can touch only carefully washed hands with soap. The bandage or other surgical material is removed one day after the manipulation.

To wash the wound, soap is used without dyes and flavoring additives. After washing on the wound surface, Vaseline or bactericidal ointment is applied. Re-ligation of the wound is performed as directed by the doctor. If no further instructions were given, then a sterile napkin or bandage should be applied if the wound is located in places that are rubbed with clothing. The site where the skin biopsy was performed should be moistened with special ointments several times a day. This will avoid the appearance of a scab.

If the trace from the biopsy is red or swollen, you should see a doctor. This can be a sign of infection.

At least a week after the procedure, restrict the intake of foods with vitamin E, do not drink alcohol, do not take aspirin and ibuprofen. Violation of this requirement can provoke bleeding.