NEOPLASMS

Neoplasm is a term meaning new growth. Some neoplasms are malignant or cancerous like melanomas. Others are benign or not cancerous like moles (nevi). When a patient comes to see us with a new growth, sometimes we can look at it and feel confident about a certain diagnosis. Other times, we will not be able to make a diagnosis without doing a biopsy of the growth. A biopsy involves numbing the area and then removing part or all of the growth. This specimen is sent to a dermatopathologist for review which helps us make a diagnosis. When we send in these specimens, they are called "neoplasms of uncertain behavior". Once we get the pathology report, we will be able to determine what type of treatment these growths require. They may require a surgical excision, freezing, application of a cream, or no type of treatment at all.