excisional biopsy

An excisional biopsy is a medical procedure where an entire lesion is removed for examination, most commonly for skin lesions. This method is advantageous because it provides the entire lesion to the pathologist, reducing the chance of missing any cancerous cells.1

In contrast, an incisional biopsy involves removing only a part of the lesion, typically when the lesion is too large or in a location that prevents complete removal, or if a needle biopsy was insufficient for diagnosis. The term "excision" itself refers to the act of removing something, especially through surgical cutting. Exploratory surgery may involve a biopsy if a diagnosis cannot be made through less invasive methods.123