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Question about how biopsy works
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Question about how biopsy works

› Forums › Cutaneous Melanoma Community › Question about how biopsy works

  • Post
    • May 5, 2017 at 10:52 pm
    Dachipmunk1
    Participant

      How do pathologist tell the difference between a benign mole and a malignant mole. They do shave biopsy at my dermatologist office, doesn't that produce a false benign if they don't get the whole lesions 

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        • May 6, 2017 at 2:36 am
        jennunicorn
        Participant

          A shave biopsy is not preferred because if the mole is deep it may cut through the mole and you would never know the true depth of the lesion. It wouldn't come up with a benign result, there would still be malignant cells that the pathologist would see if it was melanoma or any other type of skin cancer. Punch biopsy or excisional biopsy is preferred for suspected melanoma. Any dermatologist can do a punch biopsy, so if they say they "only do shave biopsies" they're lying. I would go to a different dermatologist for a biopsy if that is what they have told you.

          • May 6, 2017 at 2:22 pm
          Janner
          Participant

            As stated above, the biopsy type doesn't change anything about the cells that are seen.  The cells in ANY biopsy can be evaluated.  The shave biopsy just has the potential to slice through the lesion and not get the entire depth.  Each biopsy type has its pros and cons but a shave is often done because they are quick, require no stitches and no followup appointment.  Quicker for the doc.  Also shaves can take wider lesions than punches.  It's best to discuss WHY a particular biopsy type is used over another.

              • May 6, 2017 at 3:50 pm
              Dachipmunk1
              Participant

                What is the difference between a malignant mole between a benign, are the cells different then normal mole cells, I had a shave biopsy on a mole and it said the mole extended deeper then the excision is this normal 

                • May 7, 2017 at 2:40 am
                Janner
                Participant

                  Moles consist of melanocytes.  Those are the cells in question.  In a benign mole, these look exactly as expected.  If a melanocytes turns malignant, those melanocytes have atypical features. In addition, they can arrange themselves such that the architecture of the cells is again, not typical for normal cells.  A mole is a collection of cells.  

                  Shave biopsies are notorious for leaving part of the mole behind, that's why those of us who have had melanoma don't like them.  However, if the part of the mole removed was benign, you do not need to worry that the remaining portion is melanoma.  Melanoma typically grows from the top of the skin down so the top portion tells you a lot about the rest of the mole.

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