Your doctor may recommend that a sample of your skin be removed. If so, this sample, or biopsy, may be sent to a laboratory. There are several different methods which may be used to obtain a skin specimen. Choice of technique is determined by several factors, including the location, size, and type of lesion to be biopsied. All methods should include local injection or topical application of an anesthetic.
Shave biopsy: After administering local anesthetic, the superficial layers of skin are shaved off.
Punch biopsy: After administering local anesthetic, a small cylinder of skin is removed with a sharp, hollow instrument.
Excisional biopsy: In an excisional biopsy, the entire clinical lesion is removed. A local anesthetic is injected. Then, the entire lump, spot, or sore is removed, going as deep as necessary to get the entire area. The incision is the closed with stitches.
The fee for biopsy service includes transportation of the sample to the laboratory, external examination of the sample, processing of the sample into a microscopic slide, review of the slide by a dermatopathologist, and reporting results to your doctor. The dermatopathologist is a physician (M.D.) who is specially trained to identify diseases by the examination of skin under a microscope. The dermatopathologist reports his findings to your doctor who then uses this information to treat your condition.
If you have a condition that requires surgical excision, the tissue removed will be submitted for analysis just as is a biopsy.
In some cases, special studies on the tissue may be required to fully evaluate and diagnose your condition. The results of any of these studies are available to your physician and to you. The microscopic slides and diagnostic reports are stored in the laboratory should you or your physician request additional reports, review, consultation, or second opinion.
Knoxville Dermatopathology Laboratory offers diagnostic services to dermatologists and other physicians treating skin diseases. This service is under the supervision of Paul B. Googe, M.D., Dermatopathologist.
Dr. Googe is a board certified pathologist and has special qualification in dermatopathology (skin pathology) as certified by the American Board of Pathology and American Board of Dermatology. A native of Knoxville, Dr. Googe is a graduate of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville and the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. He received his pathology and dermatopathology training at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Googe and his staff are committed to reliable diagnostic dermatopathology service.
Frozen sections
Immunofluorescence
Direct immunofluorescence
CLIA
CAP Certified
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