--for analysis of intraepidermal nerve fiber density is a circular sample 3mm in diameter and 1 mm in depth. Considerably smaller than a dime, and not requiring stiches. It's smaller than the average excision that a dermatologist would do for almost any suspicious skin lesion.

Any dermatologist should be able to do the biopsy--it's the interpretation one needs specialized instructions/facilities for (electron microscopy is used along with specialized staining). I agree that the Hopkins program might be the way to go, as they will not only interpret but send the dermatologist specific instructions, packets to send the samples in, etc.

I'm not surprised that dermatologists/PC physicians wouldn't know how to interpret the results--it's outside their realm of expertise (though, of course, as we have vested interest in knowing about this stuff, it's not outside ours). But a dermatologist who doesn't know about the existence of this procedure by now is behind the times.