How to submit a specimen for cutaneous pathology analysis. Using the '5 D's' to get the most from biopsies
A. S. Boyd and K. H. Neldner
Department of Medicine (Dermatology), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn, USA.
Evaluation of cutaneous biopsy specimens is greatly assisted by appropriate
clinical information from the submitting physician. Without such data, it
is difficult if not impossible to accurately interpret some histologic
findings. As such, the more dermatopathologists know about the patient from
whom a biopsy specimen is being obtained the more accurate their
interpretation of the histologic findings may be. We have listed 5
categories of information all beginning with the letter D, which should be
available to dermatopathologists as they evaluate a cutaneous biopsy
specimen-description, demographics, duration, diameter, and diagnosis.
Inclusion of this information with skin biopsy specimens will assist in
their accurate and timely interpretation.
