You had a suspicious spot biopsied, left the office with a small bandage, and now you’re waiting for the results. But have you ever wondered what actually happens to that tiny piece of skin after it leaves our office?
Off to the Lab!
After a biopsy, your skin sample is placed in a specimen container and sent to a laboratory, where it is processed into very thin sections and placed onto microscope slides.
A dermatopathologist then examines the tissue under a microscope. They look at the appearance and arrangement of the cells to determine exactly what the lesion is.
This is why we sometimes recommend a biopsy even when we have a good idea of what a spot may be. Many different skin conditions can look similar on the surface, and examining the cells under a microscope can give us a definitive diagnosis.
What Do the Results Mean?
Fortunately, many biopsies come back benign, meaning no cancer was identified and no further treatment may be necessary.
You may also see terms like atypical or dysplastic, particularly with moles. These terms describe abnormal-looking cells but do not automatically mean cancer. Depending on the degree of atypia and whether the lesion was completely removed, we may recommend monitoring the area or removing additional tissue.
If a biopsy does identify a skin cancer, the pathology report gives us important information that helps determine the next step.
What Are “Margins”?
You may hear us talk about whether the biopsy has clear or positive margins.
The margins are simply the edges of the tissue that was removed. If a lesion extends to an edge of the biopsy specimen, some of it may still remain in the skin.
This doesn’t necessarily mean something went wrong. A biopsy is often performed primarily to diagnose a lesion rather than remove the entire thing.
Why Would I Need Another Procedure?
Sometimes patients are surprised when we recommend another procedure after a biopsy, especially when the original spot seems to be gone.
If the biopsy shows a skin cancer or another lesion that needs to be completely removed, microscopic cells may still remain even when you can’t see anything on the surface.
Depending on the diagnosis, the next step might include an excision, Mohs surgery, another treatment, or simply monitoring the area.
The Bottom Line
A skin biopsy gives us information we can’t always get just by looking at your skin. If you receive a pathology result containing unfamiliar terminology, don’t panic and don’t feel like you need to decipher it yourself. At Siperstein Dermatology Group, we’re here to explain exactly what your results mean and guide you through any next steps your skin may need.
