@article {Snyder523, author = {Alyson Snyder and Sara E. West and Christopher M. Miles and Steven R. Feldman}, title = {Obtaining an Adequate Specimen for the Diagnosis of Pigmented Lesions}, volume = {28}, number = {4}, pages = {523--525}, year = {2015}, doi = {10.3122/jabfm.2015.04.150043}, publisher = {The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine}, abstract = {Melanoma is a common, potentially deadly disease but is curable if caught early. A specimen of a pigmented lesion must capture the entire width and depth of the lesion to evaluate the lesion{\textquoteright}s size, symmetry, and circumscription. Saucerization shaving, punching, and excision biopsy are 3 techniques that can be used to achieve a satisfactory specimen. Physicians should have a low threshold to biopsy a suspicious atypical pigmented lesion, but acceptable specimens are key in following through with an accurate diagnosis.}, issn = {1557-2625}, URL = {https://www.jabfm.org/content/28/4/523}, eprint = {https://www.jabfm.org/content/28/4/523.full.pdf}, journal = {The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine} }