Ihonbiopsia

Ihonbiopsia is the Finnish term for a skin biopsy, a medical procedure in which a small sample of skin is removed for microscopic examination by a pathologist. The goal is to diagnose skin conditions, confirm suspected cancers, infections, inflammatory diseases, or abnormal pigment changes, and to guide treatment decisions.

Indications include evaluation of rashes, new or changing lesions, suspected skin cancer, infections, inflammatory or autoimmune skin diseases, and non-healing wounds. The procedure helps establish a precise diagnosis and informs appropriate management.

Common techniques are shave biopsy, punch biopsy, and excisional biopsy. Shave biopsy removes a superficial lesion; punch biopsy uses a circular blade to sample through epidermis and into the dermis; excisional biopsy removes the entire lesion with a margin. Incisional biopsy removes only a portion of a larger lesion.

The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia. After cleansing the area, the clinician administers anesthesia, removes the tissue, and may close the wound with sutures or adhesive. The specimen is preserved and sent to a pathology lab for examination. Turnaround for a histology report is typically several days; additional tests, such as immunohistochemistry, may be needed for a definitive diagnosis.

Risks include pain, bleeding, infection, scarring, and changes in skin color or texture. Most recover with routine wound care. Patients are advised to keep the area clean and dry, avoid picking at the site, and protect it from sun exposure as it heals.