Because of its simplicity and expediency, the small punch biopsy has been popular in dermatology for some time. However, there have been some objections to the use of this, especially on the face. Patients are concerned especially with the deep-depressed scars which result from the use of the 4 mm. and even the 2 mm. punch. Even with continued sharpening, the 2 mm. punch still produces some compression of the edges of the excised small bit of tissue so that it may be difficult to interpret this compression zone on some sections.
For years we have been using, especially on facial lesions, a technique which provided small, thin, but deep biopsies with a minimum amount of scarring. Originally we used small pieces of razor blade secured in a small-mosquito hemostat. This was unwieldy to use. Four years ago we devised a surgical knife by fixing a small piece