Frequently Asked Questions About Skin Biopsies

What is the difference between a dermatologist and a dermatopathologist?

A dermatologist is a physician who has usually completed an internal medicine residency and a year-long dermatology fellowship. A dermatologist is specifically trained to diagnose and treat disease of the skin. He may perform biopsies of skin lesions. Some dermatologists will even examine biopsies themselves and offer a microscopic interpretation of the biopsy.

A dermatopathologist is a physician who has completed a five-year pathology residency, a specialty that involves the microscopic interpretation of many different types of biopsies and surgically removed tissues. It is a field that requires compulsive attention to seemingly insignificant details. The training to diagnose disease under the microscope is intense. The dermatopathologist will continue his training spending an additional year in a credentialed dermatopathology fellowship concentrating solely on the microscopic interpretation of skin diseases.

Does it matter which laboratory processes my skin biopsy or what type of physician interprets my skin biopsy?

The American Academy of Dermatology, the largest and most influential academy of dermatologists who treat skin diseases, recently emphasized the importance of using dermatopathologists for the accurate interpretation of skin diseases. The academy urges patients to be advocates for their own health care and inquire about who’s reading their biopsy and not to be afraid to ask for a second opinion.

Skin diseases such as cancer can be clinically very subtle to the naked eye and even subtler microscopically. It takes a physician who understands the complexities of microscopic analysis to detect subtle signs of disease and cancer under the microscope. Accurate microscopic interpretation of skin disease and skin cancer is an essential component in the diagnosis and treatment of skin disease.

Who reads the skin biopsy slides at South Coast Medical Center?

SCMC is fortunate to have two board-certified dermatopathologists in the department of pathology to help patients with the interpretation of their skin biopsies. Whether a dermatologist, family physician, or surgeon obtains your skin biopsies, you can be assured that our team of expert dermatopathologists will provide you with an accurate and precise interpretation.

Do you see a lot of skin cancer in your practice?

Yes. Southern California lifestyle means living with many warm, sunny days. Our climate makes it a pleasure to live here, but it also poses health risks. Our exposure to the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation from the sun increases our risk for skin cancer and pre-malignant skin diseases.

Our dermatopathologists are experts in the microscopic interpretation of skin cancer. Unfortunately, they do diagnose thousands of skin cancers every year. They are also experts in the microscopic evaluation of pigmented lesions such as nevi, known colloquially as moles, as well as atypical nevi and melanomas.

If my skin biopsy was processed at another facility or read by another physician, how can I get it reviewed by one of your dermatopathologists?

As with other types of biopsies, we offer second opinions on skin biopsies to all patients and their physicians. We are here to serve patients, dermatologists and other physicians. We also offer preoperative review of skin biopsies. We accept most medical plans including Monarch Health Care.

To request that your slide or biopsy be reviewed by one of our dermatopathologists, authorize the laboratory or physician to send the slides to our pathology department. You may also contact our laboratory at (949) 499-7288 and authorize us to request the slide and report on your behalf from the other facility.