The Biopsy Blog

About half a year ago, an unassuming specimen landed on my microscope stage. The accompanying clinical note simply read “EIC” – an abbreviation for epidermal inclusion cyst, though more accurately termed a infundibulo-follicular cyst. These are common, benign skin lesions, often arising from blocked hair follicles. As I placed the slide under the low-power objective […]

I recently received a sample of skin excision specimen for what was diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma by a pathologist, based on the initial biopsy they examined. Since the surgical excision was carried out at a facility I serve, the excisional specimen came directly to my attention. Upon examining, while it might have initially resembled […]

Have you ever noticed a firm nodule on your skin and wondered what it could be? While many skin growths are benign, it’s natural to feel a bit concerned. Two conditions that can sometimes appear similar initially are dermatofibroma and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). Although both involve fibrous tissue and the presence of spindle-shaped cells, it’s […]

Imagine a silent, widespread passenger within the human population, the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Most of us harbor this virus, our immune systems likely having encountered and kept it in check without us ever knowing. Yet, in a tiny fraction of individuals, this seemingly innocuous virus becomes entangled in the development of a rare and […]