All resected samples of skin or tumour should be submitted for anatomical-pathological examination. Even a seemingly benign keratinous cyst that visibly contains sebum can also contain necrotic material derived from squamous cell carcinoma.
Similarly, a gynaecological tumour of sebaceous or sweat glands may present as a keratinous cyst. In practice, an apparent discrepancy often arises between the clinical diagnosis and the pathologist’s diagnosis. A “verruca vulgaris” submitted by the general practitioner may be deemed a “pigmented naevus with papillomatous outgrowth”, based on anatomical-pathological examination. Providing a histocytochemical definition of skin or tumour samples simultaneously creates documentation that may be important later, e.g. when metastases manifest. Feedback to the general practitioner also creates a learning opportunity.
One should be aware that any tissue electrocoagulated with the high frequator will no longer be evaluable for anatomical-pathological examination. Collect resected specimens in a small container filled with formalin 10% and submit it, accompanied with sufficient clinical information (name, date of birth, date of collection, nature and site of resected material), to the pathologist. Keep multiple tissue samples in separate containers labelled with the site at which they were resected.