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Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2006;8(6):437-438.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Archives of Dermatology

Differences in Biopsy Techniques of Actinic Keratoses by Plastic Surgeons and Dermatologists: A Histologically Controlled Pilot Study

Objective: To compare differences in biopsy techniques of actinic keratoses between dermatologists and plastic surgeons.

Design: Blinded, comparative, retrospective study.

Setting: Dermatopathology laboratory at a major academic medical center with referral of outside cases.

Intervention: We reexamined the histopathologic slides of 405 actinic keratosis biopsy specimens obtained by plastic surgeons and dermatologists from January 1, 1992, through May 31, 2002. We were specifically interested in the type of biopsy technique (shave, punch, or excisional biopsy) used for the surgical management of actinic keratoses by both groups of physicians. We also recorded the clinical diagnoses rendered on the dermatopathology request form and compared them with the histopathologic diagnoses.

Results: Excisional biopsies were performed by plastic surgeons in 50.0% of the cases, compared with only 1.4% by dermatologists. In contrast, shave biopsies of actinic keratoses . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Archives of Ophthalmology