The Value of Preoperative Biopsy-Site Photography for Identifying Cutaneous Lesions

Abstract

The patient incorrectly identified 45 of 271 surgical sites (16.6%), and the physician incorrectly identified 16 of 271 surgical sites (5.9%). The surgeon and the patient both incorrectly identified 12 of 271 sites (4.4%). All surgical sites were correctly identified with preoperative biopsy-site photography.

Predictive value of margins in diagnostic biopsies of nonmelanoma skin cancers

“…The following histologic features were evaluated from diagnostic biopsies: (1) the type and subtype of NMSC {SCC subtypes included in situ, well differentiated, moderately differentiated, keratoacanthoma [KA], acantholytic, or primary adenosquamous; BCC subtypes included nodular, superficial, pigmented, micronodular, morpheaform, or infiltrative}; (2) presence or absence of tumor at lateral and deep margins (Fig 1); and (3) closest distance of tumor to the lateral and deep biopsy margins and maximal dermal thickness measured in millimeters with an ocular micrometer (see Fig 1). Tangential biopsy specimens were bisected perpendicular to the long axis and submitted in toto.…”

Outcome of 6 years of protocol use for preventing wrong site office surgery

“…Recent studies confirm that both patients and physicians may commonly make site identification errors, and recommend photography to document biopsy sites. 11,12 Of note, a recent survey of US members of the American College of Mohs Surgery found that only 47% of physicians used photography to confirm biopsy sites. 13 …”

Error Avoidance in Dermatologic Surgery

“…A prospective study of 333 patients found that 9 % of patients were unable to identify their surgical sites [19]. In another study of 271 surgical sites, patients incorrectly identified the 16.6 % surgical sites, and the physicians incorrectly identified 5.9 % of the surgical sites [20].…”