Which biopsy technique uses a circular blade to remove a small cylinder of skin?

Which biopsy technique uses a circular blade to remove a small cylinder of skin?

• A. Shave biopsy
• B. Excisional biopsy
• C. Incisional biopsy
• D. Punch biopsy

Answer: (D)

The technique that uses a circular blade to remove a small cylinder of skin is a punch biopsy. The punch tool acts like a cookie cutter, rotating to cut a full-thickness plug that includes the epidermis, dermis, and sometimes subcutaneous tissue, forming a cylindrical specimen. This arrangement provides a complete cross-section of skin layers with preserved architecture, which is essential for diagnosing lesions and assessing depth. After removal, the wound is managed based on size and location, often with simple suturing or letting it heal by secondary intention. Other methods shave off superficial layers or remove an entire lesion with an elliptical incision or only a portion of it, not a cylindrical full-thickness sample like the punch biopsy.

The technique that uses a circular blade to remove a small cylinder of skin is a punch biopsy. The punch tool acts like a cookie cutter, rotating to cut a full-thickness plug that includes the epidermis, dermis, and sometimes subcutaneous tissue, forming a cylindrical specimen. This arrangement provides a complete cross-section of skin layers with preserved architecture, which is essential for diagnosing lesions and assessing depth. After removal, the wound is managed based on size and location, often with simple suturing or letting it heal by secondary intention. Other methods shave off superficial layers or remove an entire lesion with an elliptical incision or only a portion of it, not a cylindrical full-thickness sample like the punch biopsy.