Intralesional (incision) biopsy for melanoma diagnosis: the rules and the exception

G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2017 Dec;152(6):658-662. doi: 10.23736/S0392-0488.16.05376-1. Epub 2016 Apr 20.

Abstract

Intralesional (incision) biopsy for melanoma diagnosis can be warranted for large lesions or for those lesions whose in-toto excision leads to cosmetic and/or functional impairment. However, this diagnostic approach carries a risk of underdiagnosis, if a clinicopathologic diagnostic approach is not implemented. As a rule, in large pigmented lesions from special body areas (scalp and acral skin), clinicodermoscopic differential diagnosis of melanoma includes non-melanocytic skin lesions, traumatic skin changes, and nevi. The unique indication to incision biopsy for the differential diagnosis between nevus and melanoma is a relatively small nodular proliferation developing within a medium-large congenital nevus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biopsy / methods
  • Dermoscopy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Melanoma / diagnosis*
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Nevus, Pigmented / diagnosis*
  • Nevus, Pigmented / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology