Skin cancer is often discovered after patients visit their doctors to discuss symptoms they are experiencing. When signs of skin cancer are suspected, a variety of tests may be ordered to rule out or confirm the condition. Here is a look at the ways dermatologists determine if skin cancer is present.
Exam and Medical History
A thorough exam of the patient and their medical history is the first step towards investigating possible skin cancer. Dermatologists ask patients a number of questions about the unusual skin mark, including how long it has been present and whether it itches, hurts or bleeds. A family medical history, especially cases of skin cancer, is also taken into account. The physical exam includes not only a look at the skin mark but also nearby lymph nodes. A medical tool called a dermatoscope may be used to look at the mark more closely.
Biopsy of the Skin
When an unusual skin mark seems like possible skin cancer to a dermatologist, skin biopsies may be ordered. Different types of skin biopsies may be used, but all involve removing some or all of the unusual mark and sending to to a lab for microscopic analysis. A punch biopsy is performed with a special tool to get a sample from beneath the upper layers of skin. A shave biopsy, as the name suggests, involves shaving off some outer skin with a blade. Finally, incisional and excisional biopsies entail removing part and all of a tumor, respectively.
Biopsy of the Lymph Nodes
Malignant melanoma is notorious for spreading to lymph nodes, but squamous and basal cell carcinomas rarely do so. When nearby lymph nodes are judged to be swollen, however, a biopsy may be ordered to find out if cancer is present there. Lymph node biopsies are divided into fine needle aspiration and excisional types. During a fine needle aspiration biopsy, a needle and syringe is used to take out small bits of a lymph node. When this method produces too small a sample for diagnostic certainty, an excisional biopsy is likely to be ordered. This involves surgical removal of the entire lymph node for examination.
Skin cancer can be fatal if it spreads throughout the body. Early diagnosis is key to the best prognosis, but skin cancer is virtually impossible to confirm or rule out without specialized medical experience and testing. If you have an unusual mark on your skin, you should have it examined for your well-being and peace of mind. Call OC Skin Institute today to schedule a consultation with our dermatologist.