Skin

Abstract

Skin biopsies comprise a large component of the volume of many anatomic pathology laboratories. These biopsies come in many shapes and sizes, both because of the ease with which the cutaneous surface can be sampled and also because biopsies are performed using a wide variety of techniques. Specimens are generally obtained to diagnose tumors, to ensure complete excision of tumors, and to identify or confirm the nature of cutaneous inflammatory diseases. Understanding the suspected diagnosis and purpose of the procedure will help expedite the processing of the tissue and ensure an accurate diagnosis.