Why Do Excisional Biopsy?

Although the goal of an excisional biopsy is to diagnose cancer, sometimes the surgeon can fully remove the cancer. In these cases, excisional biopsy may be the only breast surgery needed to treat the cancer.

When would you use an excisional biopsy?

When possible, excisional biopsy is the preferred method when melanoma is suspected. An excisional biopsy, also called a wide local incision, involves surgical removal of a tumor and some normal tissue around it. The amount of normal tissue taken (also called the clinical margin) depends on the thickness of the tumor.

What does an excisional biopsy show?

There are 2 types of surgical biopsies:

An incisional biopsy removes only part of the abnormal area. An excisional biopsy removes the entire tumor or abnormal area. An edge (margin) of normal breast tissue around the tumor may be taken, too, depending on the reason for the biopsy.