Skin biopsy to diagnose melanoma

Diagnosing melanoma

A dermatologist may take a skin biopsy after visual inspection of an atypical mole. Usually, the dermatologist will excise (cut) the entire mole for best diagnosis results. Along with the patient’s history, the tissue sample will then be examined for abnormal cells by a skin pathologist. A skin biopsy will likely leave a scar because an ideal biopsy requires taking a deep enough tissue sample.