Punch biopsy

What is a punch biopsy?

A punch biopsy of the skin is a method of collecting tissue for further histological examination. The biopsy is performed using a special instrument—a “punch” scalpel, which is a hollow tube with a sharp edge. By penetrating the tissue to a certain depth, the doctor obtains a sample of the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous fat tissue simultaneously. The sample, in the form of a small cylindrical plug, fully preserves its structure. Obtaining diagnostic skin samples of the full thickness ensures more comprehensive and informative results of morphological studies.

Indications for the procedure

A punch biopsy is prescribed for the primary diagnosis or monitoring the dynamics during treatment in patients with pigmented lesions, chronic skin diseases, or neoplasms. The main indications for the procedure are:

• benign neoplasms that show signs or risks of degeneration into malignant ones;
• suspected malignant skin neoplasms—squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, reticulosis, melanoma;
• chronic inflammatory and infectious diseases with complications—psoriasis, eczema, sarcoidosis;
• chronic, frequently recurring dermatoses;
• deep fungal skin infections that are difficult to treat;
• systemic diseases—amyloidosis, scleroderma, skin tuberculosis;
• autoimmune and genetic skin diseases—Darier’s disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, dermatomyositis, skin vasculitis.

Punch biopsy is used as an additional diagnostic method for skin diseases and for the removal of small neoplasms.

Punch Biopsy Procedure

The procedure does not require specific or prolonged preparation from the patient and is prescribed after examining the affected area. The process is as follows:

• the skin area is treated with an antiseptic, and local anesthesia is administered;
• the doctor selects an appropriate instrument (punch scalpel) of the correct diameter—it should “capture” the area with the most pronounced pathological changes on the surface, either at the center of the formation or at the actively growing edge;
• after the sample is collected, depending on the size of the surgical wound, either a stitch is applied, or a non-suturing compression technique is used;
• the obtained sample is immersed in a special solution and sent to the laboratory. The results of the examination will be ready within 7-10 days.

At the LeoDerm Clinic in Lviv, experienced dermatologists perform this diagnostic procedure. If you have skin changes that concern you, schedule a consultation now. After the examination, the dermatologist will inform you whether the procedure is necessary for a more accurate diagnosis and what the cost of the punch biopsy will be in your case.