Skin biopsy
During this diagnostic procedure, parts of the lesion to be diagnosed, are excised. Either a punch biopsy (cylindric scalpel) of various diameters (2-8mm) may be used or a small spindel may be excised.
It is important to only minimally traumatise the excsised skin biopsy to prevent compromising the subsequent histologic examination. Fixing of the bioptic tissue is either carried out through formalin (routine histology), liquid nitrogen (special stains, immunhistochemistry, direct immunofluorescence) or glutaraldehyde (electron-microscopic examination). In some cases, no fixation is required, e.g. when a micorbiologic examination/cultivation is planned. In this case, the specimen should be stored in a saline solution (0,9% NaCl).
