Punch Biopsy
For a punch biopsy, the doctor first injects a medicine to numb the area. Then a tool that looks like a tiny round cookie cutter is used to remove a deep sample of skin. The doctor rotates the punch biopsy tool on the skin until it cuts through all the layers of the skin. The sample is then removed, and the edges of the biopsy site are often stitched together.
- Written by
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Last Revised: April 16, 2021
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