Malignant Melanoma: To Biopsy or Not To Biopsy

Biopsy Technique for Malignant Melanoma

“…These authors feel that all suspected melanomas should be biopsied to obtain a definitive diagnosis and to determine the depth of invasion . The need for preliminary biopsy of malignant melanomas has recently been discussed by Lee . He also affirms the value of biopsy in toto or in part if necessary.…”

Nail Biopsy–Why, When, Where, How?

“…Harris and Gumport citing Knutson and his colleagues in an extensive review of malignant melanoma, state that “no statistically significant evidence was found to incriminate preliminary biopsy of melanomas, either in entirety or in part, as having a detrimental influence on survival of patients.” These authors believe that all suspected melanomas should be biopsied to obtain a definitive diagnosis and to determine the extent of invasion of the tumor. The need for a preliminary biopsy of malignant melanomas has recently also been considered by Lee. He also affirms the value of a surgical biopsy either total or partial depending upon the circumstances.…”

Incisional procedures and prognosis in malignant melanoma

“…For some time it has been argued whether it is justifiable to perform incisional or punch biopsies where there is any suspicion of malignant melanoma. Recent reviews of the subject (Lee, 1974;Kopf, Bart & Rodriguez-Sains, 1977) infer that as yet no convincing proof of a deleterious influence of pretreatment biopsies on prognosis has been substantiated. Therefore, we undertook a retrospective study to try to evaluate the prognostic importance of incisional biopsies in human cutaneous melanoma.…”