Skin Biopsy: What's It Like
 

So I might be getting a skin biopsy. What's the procedure like? Are there any risks? Is it an accurate test?

It is the most accurate test available for small fiber neuropathy.

It is a punch biopsy, which means it is about 3 millimeters in width, and it is a perfect round circle, that gets punched out of your skin-pretty far down, so it gets the whole thickness.

They numb the area, but it is a deep cut, do I still felt it a bit-but nothing crazy.

I kept it bandaged for a little over a week because it is deep. I still have a bit of a scar from my two biopsies, but the fade as time goes-the one on my ankle slower than the one on my thigh-but everything heals slower at the ankle due to its distance from the heart.

I had two locations done-upper thigh and ankle-both outer (distal). Not sure if it is common or not to have two biopsies taken at once. For me, I'm glad, as it showed my neuropathy was not length dependent, as I had damage in both the ankle and the thigh.

Dang!!

I was planning on entering a beauty contest...guess I might need to reconsider :eek::D

My neuro just said they will discuss with my insurance company to see if it's covered.

Ellsac's descriptions is pretty accurate. The worst of the procedure is the numbing shot, so it's not bad at all. You leave with a band-aid and instructions to keep dry for a few days.

I had 3 sites done on each leg. Mine were the typical locations...ankle, just above knee and thigh. Some doctors only do two sites. You need at least two site in order to determine length/non-length dependent neuropathy.

It's really no big deal...you'll do fine. It's very accurate as they get to look directly at the small fibers, so they can determine density % as well as condition of the fibers.

Skin biopsy & steroids?
 

Hi - I read somewhere that if you're taking steroid medication it will affect the results of a skin biopsy. Does anyone know if this is true? and to what degree - ie: does it mean that a skin biopsy isn't feasible for those on steroids?
Thanks for any info.

UTGrad - all the best for the 'punches' - hope you get some answers.

Interesting. I'm taking a nasal steroid

OK UtGrad
So I did a quick search to see if I could find out more about skin biopsy and steroids - only thing I found so far to confirm it was on a Veterinarian site (ie for animals - apparently they get skin biopsies as well!)
But I also came across this neurology journal site article with detailed info on skin biopsies and PN:
http://www.nature.com/nrneurol/journ...neuro0630.html
I'll post it in the PN tips thread as well.

Thank you...that was an excellent link

I have autoimmune Addison's disease, and take steroids everyday. It is a very small physiological dose that only replaces what my body doesn't make on its own, but none of the neurologists I have seen mentioned it affecting the skin biopsy at all.

The most steroids could do is lessen inflammation in the body, but if your nerves are damaged and dying off, it'll show up regardless I would think, as mine did.