Mole Removal: Q&A
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Dark Spot in the Middle of my Mole Biopsy Site
I had a shave biopsy to my lower back 4 days ago! Ever since then I have had a dark brown spot in the middle of my biopsy site! What does this mean?
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6 Doctor Answers |
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Ga Mom
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Mole and shave biopsy
A shave biopsy removes only the upper portion of skin and/or the mole. The dark spot you are seeing may be the remaining area of the deeper mole. Check with your surgeon to make certain this is not a malignant mole which may require further excision.
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Residual pigmentation after shave excision
A shave excision removes only the top part of the mole that was raised above the skin surface. This means that part of the mole within the deeper layer (dermis) of the skin does not get removed. If the biopsy result shows a benign lesion - whihc is the most likely outcome, you can ignore the remaining part (the dark area). Of course, if it was cancerous - further tissue will have to be removed.
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Dark spot in the center of a mole biopsy site
This is most likely the mole coming back (a recurrent nevus). Moles often have a superficial and deep component and shaving a mole off the surface of the skin does not get both components. When the deeper one regrows, it shows up as a dark spot in the center of the biopsy site.
In general, moles should be removed in their entirely, so shaves are not adequate for total removal. If the pathology report says the mole that was removed from your back was benign, nothing else...
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A Shave Biopsy is a Great Way to Biopsy a Mole
A shave biopsy is usually the only way to go to have a mole checked for cancer, especially one that is growing on your back. It typically leaves a minimal scar which sometimes will have a central area of hyperpigmentation. The mole will rarely regrow and the appearance with the central dark spot should not be objectionable. This is because the mole is actually "shaved off" at a level just below the surface of the skin. If the biopsy results show it to be cancerous or pre-cancerous...
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Dark spot in mole site
After only 4 days, the darkness in the center may be a scab, or residual mole. Wait until it heals. The pathology report will show if there is any mole left behind. If there is no atypia (abnormality of the cells) you can leave it alone, but if the lesion has an appearance under the microscope suggesting it could turn into melanoma, then the remainder should be removed. Follow up with your doctor to discuss.
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Dark spot following shave biopsy
A shave biopsy can be an effective and simple way of removing raised, benign lesions. However, because it removes the lesion flush with the skin, if your mole was pigmented (ie brown), then some of the pigment may be deeper in the skin and can remain following the shave.
The first thing to do is to wait for the histology of the lesion to make sure that it was benign. Assuming that it is benign, then you can leave that residual bit of pigment in the middle of the scar, if it...
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Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
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