Understanding your biospy results
Cancerous Lesions:
Squamous Cell Carcinoma: The second most common type of skin cancer typically caused by chronic, long term sun exposure. It requires further surgical removal otherwise it can invade into the deeper surrounding tissue and aggressive forms have the potential to spread to other parts of the body.
Basal Cell Carcinoma: Most common type of skin cancer typically caused from intermittent intense sun exposure. It is usually slow growing, but does require further surgical removal. Otherwise, it can invade into surrounding tissue and cause disfigurement.
Lentigo Maligna/Melanoma: The most deadly type of skin cancer most commonly caused by UV radiation from the sun and tanning beds. It requires prompt surgical removal, which will involve excising the remaining skin cancer along with a margin of surrounding healthy tissue. If left untreated, melanoma it can spread to the lymph nodes and metastasize to distant parts of the body. Recommend full body skin checks every 3-6 months.
These types of skin cancers requires mohs procedure.
Mohs procedure is considered to be the most effective technique for treating SCC or BCC on cosmetically sensitive areas of the body. The first part of the procedure involves curettage, which helps remove superficial skin cancer cells and prepares the tissue for further treatment. The second part involves Dr. Tareen surgically removing the remaining skin cancer while preserving as much surrounding healthy tissue as possible. Mohs surgery will result in the best cosmetic outcome. Depending on the size and location of the lesion, stitches may be needed to close the wound. After the surgery is done, you may go home and can expect to be contacted around lunch time with your pathology results. If results show the cancer is cleared, you do not need to come back to the office. If results show remaining skin cancer, you will need to come to the office for further removal the same day. Due to this possibility, we ask that you remain within 30 minutes from the clinic in case you need to return.
Precancerous Lesions:
Moderate/Severe Atypical Mole (with positive margins): This is a precancerous mole that requires further treatment. This procedure is very similar to the initial biopsy, the treatment usually requires a larger and deeper margin of skin to be removed. The specimen is processed and assessed by pathology to ensure all precancerous cells have been removed. The results become available typically within 1-2 weeks.
Actinic Keratosis: Precancerous lesion that requires further treatment with liquid nitrogen, which will be a light cold spray to the skin. If left untreated, this could evolve to a squamous cell carcinoma which is a type of skin cancer."
Requires excision:
Excision is a surgical procedure performed to definitively treat the skin cancer. The first part of the procedure involves curettage, which helps remove superficial skin cancer cells and prepares the tissue for further treatment. The second part involves surgical removal of the skin cancer along with a margin of surrounding healthy tissue. Depending on the size of the lesion, stitches may be necessary to close the wound. After the procedure, the area will be bandaged and you are sent home. The specimen is sent in for pathology assessment and results become available usually within 7-10 business days.