This can be accomplished in any of 3 methods: shave biopsy wherein a surgical razor is used to shave-off parts of the suspected growth; punch biopsy wherein an instrument called a trephine is used to remove a circle of tissue from the growth and excisional biopsy wherein the entire growth is removed surgically with the use of a scalpel.

A shave biopsy of a neck plaque identified a hyperkeratotic, acanthotic, spongiotic dermatitis with lymphocytes and scattered eosinophils.

Also, if the diagnosis of superficial basal cell carcinoma was based upon a shave biopsy for which the tissue specimen only extends into the papillary dermis, a decision regarding the most appropriate treatment may be based on incomplete information, and the tumor may not be adequately treated if a more aggressive histologic variant of the neoplasm is present in the adjacent or deeper dermis.