Excisional and Incisional - Biopsies

Boise

Biopsies are procedures conducted to remove a whole organ or tumor sample. The way the samples are taken is determined by the location of the tumor and the type of cancer that has been diagnosed. This article will review the two most prevalent forms of biopsies: excisional and incisional biopsy.

What is Excisional or Incisional Biopsy?

What is Excisional or Incisional Biopsy?

A biopsy is a process of removing a tumor. The procedure is termed an excisional biopsy when the entire tumor is removed, and an incisional biopsy is when only a part of the tumor is removed. Be aware that an excisional biopsy, also known as a wide local excision, entails the surgical removal of the tumor and some normal tissue surrounding it.

Reasons You May Need an Excisional or Incisional Biopsy

Excisional and incisional biopsies are commonly used to check for malignancy. They are, nonetheless, useful in determining other illnesses. Excisional or incisional biopsy is often advised anytime there are important questions regarding your health that the biopsy may be able to answer.

The following are some of the reasons you may need an excisional or incisional biopsy:

  • If you have chronic hepatitis and need to know if you have cirrhosis
  • If you have signs of skin cancer, like a mole that changes in color, and want to know if you have melanoma, especially if a mole on your skin has changed shape recently
  • If mammography reveals a lump or bulge, that could indicate breast cancer
  • When your doctor wants to assess for cancer spread, i.e., breast or skin cancer
  • When your doctor wants to diagnose and choose the optimal treatment strategy

What are the Risk Factors for Excisional or Incisional Biopsy?

What are the Risk Factors for Excisional or Incisional Biopsy?

Although the chances of having an excisional or incisional biopsy is low, it is possible if you have been diagnosed with cancer.

The following are some of the risks associated with excisional or incisional biopsy:

  • Bleeding from the incision
  • An infection of the surrounding tissues
  • There is a possibility of tissue scarring that is not evident
  • If the lesion is more severe than first thought, an infection may develop, necessitating additional treatment

Other risks depend on the biopsied location, so you should discuss them thoroughly with your doctor before proceeding.

What are the Complications of Excisional or Incisional Biopsy?

Some of the possible complications related to excisional or incisional biopsy are:

  • Skin discomfort surrounding the biopsy area.
  • Puncture injury to neighboring tissue or organs.
  • Abnormal bleeding (hemorrhage)
  • Infections

Can Excisional or Incisional Biopsy be Prevented?

Some of the ways you can prevent complications related to excisional or incisional biopsy are by:

  • Discussing your up-to-date drug prescriptions and allergies with Dr. Gay
  • Avoiding sporting or exercise activities after the surgery
  • Having adequate painkillers

What to Expect from your Excisional or Incisional Biopsy

What to Expect from your Excisional or Incisional Biopsy

The sample outcome primarily determines excisional or incisional biopsy treatment options. They are usually done with a surgical procedure that takes about 15 minutes, and the result is revealed after nearly 48 hours.

The diagnosis will determine the treatment, and you and Dr. Gay will discuss the result and next steps. If you see any signs of infection, such as weeping or redness around the biopsy site, seek medical help immediately.

Call to Schedule an Appointment with a Boise Surgeon Specializing in Excisional and Incisional Biopsies

If you are in need of an incisional or excisional biopsy for diagnostics of a potential condition, consider scheduling a consultation with an experienced surgeon like Dr. Daniel Gay. He is focused on providing a minimally invasive surgical option to all patients with a larger emphasis on their further health education. Submit a contact form or call (208) 321-4790 today to make an appointment!

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Mike Barth
Dr Gay did an excellent job and is the best combination of being very experienced yet treats you like a friend… made me confident with the process and everything turned out exactly as expected or even better! Highest of recommendations from me!
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Eric Lewis
Dr. Gay made me feel as comfortable as possible with the surgery and gave great examples of what to expect. He was very thorough in my post-surgery appointment with instructions moving forward. Highly recommend!!
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Shelley M Vaden
Went for a consultation since my surgeon passed a few years ago,and Dr Gay was recommended by my family physician Dr Hugh Sterling. Was friendly,and to the point for procedures for my condition.
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brandon chissus
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Kathy Barnes
Very pleasant office staff and a top notch doctor. Surgery went well and the recovery was easy. Highly recommend Dr.Gay
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Tamara Leininger
Absolutely one of the best doctors I have experienced. Surgery is never fun but Dr. Gay is so thorough, compassionate and skilled. I had a few things going on and am a bit of a complicated patient. Dr. Gay was very kind and really spent time with me going over things in detail. He got me fixed up and my recovery was great. Good Doctor makes for great recovery. Thank you Dr. Gay for just being awesome. 🤩
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Timo Alden
Very qualified and competent surgeon. Communicated well. And FYI he's a nice guy. I met face to face with him every time, not an assistant. I recommend him highly.
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Jen HenJones
Out of nowhere I developed a mass in my neck with unknown diagnosis due to how deep under the muscle of my neck/shoulders it was, we couldn't biopsy ahead of time to see what we were dealing with. Dr. Gay was referred and he was great. He put me and my husband at ease about the process, the ease of it due to his experience and expertise and was able to get me in for surgery in under a month which was a relief as I was nervous about the unknown as it could have been a lump of fat to a malignant tumor. Dr. Gay made the process easy and left a minimal scar. Thankfully it was not worst case scenario and followup was easy. He checked in with lab results 3 days later and answered all questions. I highly recommend him to anyone
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