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Biopsy Techniques and Interpretation

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Skin Cancer Management

Abstract

The performance of a skin biopsy is an intrinsic part of the initial management of a patient suspected of having a skin cancer (Rapini RP, Dermatol Clin 12:83–91, 1994; Olbricht S. Biopsy techniques and basic excisions. In: Bolognia JL, Jorizzo JL, Rapini RP, eds. Dermatology. 2nd ed. London: Elsevier; 2008:2209–2225). This chapter will therefore begin with a discussion of the various skin biopsy techniques most commonly used in the diagnosis of skin cancer and their clinical indications. This will be followed by a frank discussion of the interpretation of biopsy results. Discussion of other biopsy techniques such as curettage and sentinel lymph node biopsy will be dealt with elsewhere (Chaps. 6 and 15, respectively).

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Correspondence to Deborah F. MacFarlane .

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MacFarlane, D.F., Rapini, R.P. (2021). Biopsy Techniques and Interpretation. In: MacFarlane, D.F. (eds) Skin Cancer Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50593-6_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50593-6_1

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