[Significance of needle biopsy for surgical dermatologic intervention]

Out of 890 fine needle aspiration biopsies performed at the Fachklinik Hornheide (195 in 1984, 277 in 1985, and 418 in the first half of 1986), we present 8 typical cases in order to demonstrate that needle biopsy is a valuable morphological technique, which allows a quick and reliable diagnosis of tumors. Moreover, it hardly affects the patient, does not destroy the prospective operation field, allows difficult bioptic approaches, and promotes the histological epicrisis. Needle biopsy is also useful in therapy control and follow-up examinations of tumors.