What is a soft tissue biopsy?
A soft tissue biopsy is a procedure performed by a healthcare provider in which a small sample of soft tissue is removed from the patient’s body. The sample is then sent for examination under a microscope to various conditions, such as tumors, infections, inflammation, or other abnormalities.
What are causes for a soft tissue biopsy?
There are several reasons your doctor may order a soft tissue biopsy. Soft tissue includes skin, fat, muscles and tendons. These biopsies require minimal amounts of time and effort from the patient but provide helpful information on reaching an accurate diagnosis and determining the best treatment for your specific condition.
Conditions often identified using a soft tissue biopsy include:
- Freckles
- Colored or pigmented spots (moles, etc.)
- Fungal or bacterial infections
- Rashes, like dermatitis or eczema
- Lesions related to a specific disease, like diabetes
- Nodes, like ganglion cysts, lipomas or fibromas
- Toenail conditions like onychomycosis or psoriasis
- Warts or wart-like growths (keratoses)
- Premalignant conditions
How is a soft tissue biopsy performed?
A soft tissue biopsy can be performed using one of the following two techniques:
- Needle biopsy, or removing a small piece of tissue
- Excisional biopsy, or removing the entire abnormal area
If the area in question is superficial, such as a mole, your doctor may also use a small blade to shave it off, a small tool that “punches” it out, or a tool to make an incision to remove an entire section. The latter two typically require some sort of stitches.
The type of technique used will vary based on location and size of the abnormality.
Once the biopsy has been examined by a pathologist at a laboratory, your doctor will inform you of the results and provide further guidance if treatment is needed.
What should you expect after a soft tissue biopsy?
After your soft tissue biopsy, always follow the instructions provided by your care team. If stitches were required to the affected area, a follow up appointment will be scheduled to remove them. Expect your biopsy results to arrive back in the surgeon’s office in about 7-10 business days, at which point you will be contacted to discuss your results and any further treatment that may be needed.