A biopsy is a surgical procedure where a small sample of a skin growth is sent to a lab to view under a microscope to determine a definitive diagnosis.  

Why perform a biopsy?

A biopsy is a surgical procedure used to diagnose a skin growth. Prior to undergoing more invasive treatments like excisions, it is best to know exactly what a skin growth looks like under a microscope. Knowing what the cells that compose a growth look like on a microscopic level allows Dr. Campbell to diagnose and plan exactly how to treat a growth. In some instances a biopsy is utilized to determine whether or not a growth is harmful and only by looking at the growth under a microscope can that be determined. In cases where the growth is benign, no further treatment is usually required.