Which procedure involves removing or sampling suspicious skin lesions for microscopic examination?

• A. Skin Biopsy
• B. Sodium Levels
• C. Stress Test
• D. Thoracentesis

Answer: (A)

Sampling suspicious skin lesions for microscopic examination is accomplished with a skin biopsy. In this procedure, a small piece of skin—sometimes just a tiny punch, sometimes a shave or excisional removal—is taken, usually under local anesthesia. The tissue is then processed and studied under a microscope by a pathologist. This direct tissue sample reveals cellular details and patterns that help confirm diagnoses such as skin cancers, infections, or inflammatory conditions, which cannot be reliably determined by appearance alone.

Other options serve different purposes: measuring sodium levels checks blood electrolytes, a stress test evaluates heart function during exercise, and thoracentesis removes fluid from the space around the lungs. None of these involve sampling skin tissue for histologic examination.