Dermatopathology / Skin Biopsy Interpretation

Probably the most common specimen a hospital pathologist receives is a portion of skin in order to determine if a skin lesion represents cancer and if so, what type of cancer. There are several different skin cancers but the most common are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are often curative by simple excision. Melanoma, however, is a more worrisome type of skin cancer that has a high potential to spread to other portions of the body (metastasize) and to even cause death if it is not detected early enough. A hospital pathologist is generally adept at diagnosing all types of skin cancers and to evaluate skin rashes. Evaluation of skin rashes can be challenging and when doing so, the pathologist should take into consideration as much of the clinical findings as possible. The performance of skin biopsies can be done by several different types of physicians including primary care doctors, surgeons and dermatologists. However, the evaluation and diagnosis of skin biopsies should be done by a qualified pathologist like those at The Pathology Group.