Laboratory Procedures & Biopsies Flashcards

When labeling a biopsy specimen container, which information is MOST critical to include?

Answer: Patient name, date of birth, and biopsy site

Patient name, date of birth, and biopsy site are essential identifiers to ensure correct specimen-patient matching and accurate pathology reporting.

Which stain is used in dermatopathology to highlight mast cells?

Answer: Toluidine blue

Toluidine blue stains mast cell granules metachromatically (purple-red), making it the preferred stain for identifying mast cells in tissue sections.

A patient presents with a nodule on the ear. The dermatologist requests an incisional biopsy. What does this technique involve?

Answer: Removal of only a representative portion of the lesion

An incisional biopsy removes only part of a larger lesion for diagnosis when complete excision is not practical or necessary at the initial visit.

What is the purpose of the Wood's lamp examination in a dermatology laboratory setting?

Answer: To detect UV-fluorescent organisms or pigmentation changes

Wood's lamp emits long-wave UV light (365 nm) that causes certain fungi, bacteria, and pigmentary conditions to fluoresce, aiding in diagnosis.

Which local anesthetic is most commonly used for skin biopsy procedures?

Answer: Lidocaine 1% with or without epinephrine

Lidocaine 1% with epinephrine is the standard choice for skin biopsies because it provides rapid onset anesthesia and vasoconstriction to minimize bleeding.

After a punch biopsy, the wound is typically closed with which suture technique?

Answer: Single interrupted suture

A single interrupted suture (or two) is standard for closing small punch biopsy wounds due to the small defect size and ease of placement.

When is it appropriate to use a shave biopsy?

Answer: Superficial raised lesions like seborrheic keratoses or nevi above the skin plane

Shave biopsies are appropriate for superficial, raised lesions because they cleanly remove the elevated portion without requiring sutures.