The relationship between biopsy technique and uncertainty in the histopathologic diagnosis of melanoma.

Review of filed histopathology material of 525 cases of definite melanomas and other atypical pigmented lesions showed that diagnostic certainty was greatest for excisional or deep shave specimens. Shave and particularly punch biopsy specimens were associated with less certainty. The data of this study suggest that punch biopsy should be avoided for pigmented lesions and that a properly done deep shave biopsy is nearly equal to an excision in diagnostic content for such lesions.