Chapter Principles of Surgery
Biopsy is a diagnostic procedure to obtain tissue samples for histopathology or cytology. It is essential for diagnosing solid skin and subcutaneous tumors, determining tumor type, grade, and margins for treatment planning.
- Initial evaluation of palpable or superficial masses.
- Assessment of lymph nodes for metastasis.
- Screening for inflammatory, cystic, or neoplastic processes.
- Use a 22–25 gauge needle attached to a 2 - 5 mL syringe.
- Insert the needle into the mass, applying negative pressure.
- Redirect within the lesion to obtain a sample.
- Expel aspirate onto slides for cytological analysis.
- Minimally invasive and cost-effective.
- Rapid results; no anesthesia required.
- Differentiates inflammatory from neoplastic lesions.
- Deep-seated or subcutaneous tumors requiring histological evaluation.
- Cases where incisional or excisional biopsy is not feasible initially.
- Use a 14–18 gauge core biopsy device.
- Insert into the mass; extract a cylindrical tissue core.
- Obtain multiple samples for better diagnostic yield.
- Preserves tissue architecture for histology.
- Less invasive than surgical biopsies.
- Can be guided by imaging.
- Indicated for superficial skin lesions.
- A circular punch tool is used to obtain a full-thickness skin sample.
- Simple, minimally invasive, and cost-effective.
- Indicated for large or deep tumors.
- A small wedge of tissue is surgically excised.
- More accurate for heterogeneous or complex masses.
- Complete removal of the tumor for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
- Suitable for small, easily accessible masses.
- Provides margins for evaluation.