Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. In many cases it can be fatal if left undiagnosed and allowed to metastasize to other parts of the body. One way to determine the full extent of a mark or mole on the skin is to have a melanoma biopsy. Usually, the mark will have been examined by a skin cancer professional who will suspect that it could be a melanoma. By having a biopsy, more information can be gained on the mark and confirm the diagnosis. It may also help determine any possible treatments for the disease.
The most common forms of melanoma biopsy are excisional and incisional. An excisional will remove all the cancerous cells. An incisional biopsy will take a deep sample of the cells, leaving the rest of the cells on the skin.
Excisional biopsies are preferred as they remove all the potential cancerous growth. They will generally take a part of the skin surrounding the mark too. Incisional biopsies are normally performed when the growth is quite large and it would be impractical to take such a large part of the skin away. Or, the suspected cancer was in a delicate or visible location, like the face, and might leave an unsightly scar or wound.
Both of these procedures can be performed in a doctors clinic or skin cancer center. They only take a few minutes and the person is fully aware when the procedure occurs. Generally, the affected area will have a local anesthetic applied to it.
The removed tissue can then be closely examined. This is done by a pathologist who will determine if the cells in question are malignant. If they are determined to be malignant, further details will be established. One important detail is the depth of the melanoma. This can indicate the progression of the disease and give your doctor information on possible treatments.
A biopsy is the best way to determine whether an unusual mark on the skin is actually cancerous. It is only performed after a first examination of the mark by a skin specialist who suspects that it could be cancerous. The information returned from the biopsy can be used to formulate a treatment plan for the disease and an indication of the extent that it has progressed.
Early and conclusive detection of melanoma growths are vital to treating the disease effectively. If found early, the tissues can be cut out. If it has spread then aggressive cancer treatments may be required.