Punch biopsy for diagnosis of pigmented skin lesions

Melanoma is a potentially fatal cancer with a relatively high incidence, but it can be cured if the lesions are removed at an early stage. Punch biopsy is a cosmetically acceptable, rapid method for removing small pigmented lesions to allow definitive pathologic diagnosis. The technique, which usually requires only a small amount of local anesthetic and no sutures, can be performed by a busy physician at the time the suspicious lesion is discovered.