Must pigment regrowth be excised?

Yes, not my favorite biopsy type for the very reason you describe.  If the biopsy happened to be melanoma, it might cut through the lesion and you lose important staging information.  Ideally, you want the entire lesion removed with a biopsy and if you are having regrowth, that means the entire lesion isn't removed.  I, personally, prefer punch biopsies but many derms don't like those as well because they require more time to do and also require stitches.  Shaves are easy for derms.  But if it is being biopsied as a possible melanoma, then I refuse to have a shave done.

My derm said that deep shave is much better than a punch biopsy which doesn't get clean margins. he showed me this study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12637923

My derm said that deep shave is much better than a punch biopsy which doesn't get clean margins. he showed me this study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12637923

"Both superficial and deep shave biopsies were more accurate than punch biopsy for melanomas less than 1 mm. Excisional biopsy was found to be the most accurate method of biopsy.

CONCLUSIONS: Deep shave biopsy is preferable to superficial shave or punch biopsy for thin and intermediate depth (<2 mm) melanomas when an initial sample is taken for diagnosis instead of complete excision."

HAVE YOU RECEIVED COPIES OF THE PATHOLOGY REPORTS?  Did they state that the deep shave had optained clear margins?  If so, why doess the "mole keep regrowing?  Ddddddoes the Deep Shaves you are getting cover the 2 mm depth?  Outside of the Deep Shave taking less time (!10 minutes) while the Excision often takes around an hour, I would be uncmfortble with having repeat re-growths.

"Both superficial and deep shave biopsies were more accurate than punch biopsy for melanomas less than 1 mm. Excisional biopsy was found to be the most accurate method of biopsy.

CONCLUSIONS: Deep shave biopsy is preferable to superficial shave or punch biopsy for thin and intermediate depth (<2 mm) melanomas when an initial sample is taken for diagnosis instead of complete excision."

HAVE YOU RECEIVED COPIES OF THE PATHOLOGY REPORTS?  Did they state that the deep shave had optained clear margins?  If so, why doess the "mole keep regrowing?  Ddddddoes the Deep Shaves you are getting cover the 2 mm depth?  Outside of the Deep Shave taking less time (!10 minutes) while the Excision often takes around an hour, I would be uncmfortble with having repeat re-growths.

"Both superficial and deep shave biopsies were more accurate than punch biopsy for melanomas less than 1 mm. Excisional biopsy was found to be the most accurate method of biopsy.

CONCLUSIONS: Deep shave biopsy is preferable to superficial shave or punch biopsy for thin and intermediate depth (<2 mm) melanomas when an initial sample is taken for diagnosis instead of complete excision."

HAVE YOU RECEIVED COPIES OF THE PATHOLOGY REPORTS?  Did they state that the deep shave had optained clear margins?  If so, why doess the "mole keep regrowing?  Ddddddoes the Deep Shaves you are getting cover the 2 mm depth?  Outside of the Deep Shave taking less time (!10 minutes) while the Excision often takes around an hour, I would be uncmfortble with having repeat re-growths.

It's a matter of opinion.  My mel onc will NEVER do a shave on a suspected melanoma because it is not a FULL SKIN THICKNESS biopsy.  Deep shaves cannot guarantee full skin thickness and if they aren't thick enough, you lose staging info.  Period.  Besides, shaves hurt much more while healing and look worse when they are done.  I will never have another one for those reasons either.  Obviously, the original poster is not getting clean margins on her shaves or else she would not be having regrowth.

There is a time and a place for all biopsy types.  If the original mole is much wider than a punch biopsy, then an excisional biopsy will be done in my case, not a deep shave.  Punches have limitations on width.  But I always want to get the depth info as it is much more important than a side margin not being totally clear.  Derms LOVE shaves because they are quick and easy and require no followups.  But ask your derm if he had melanoma and I bet he'd have an excisional biopsy on himself.

I only remove moles that change so am not subject to a lot of biopsies – my body seems to have mellowed out over the last 22 years and I get few that change anymore.  But if it changes, I won't be having a shave.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I've seen countless people here who have had shave biopsies that do NOT get the full depth.  They only know their depth is at least as deep as the scoop went.  To me, depth is THE #1 CRITERIA and shaves don't guarantee depth.  So I choose never to do a shave.  This is what is best for me.  If you and your doc think a shave is always best for your future and you know he will always go "deep enough",  then that works for you!

It's a matter of opinion.  My mel onc will NEVER do a shave on a suspected melanoma because it is not a FULL SKIN THICKNESS biopsy.  Deep shaves cannot guarantee full skin thickness and if they aren't thick enough, you lose staging info.  Period.  Besides, shaves hurt much more while healing and look worse when they are done.  I will never have another one for those reasons either.  Obviously, the original poster is not getting clean margins on her shaves or else she would not be having regrowth.

There is a time and a place for all biopsy types.  If the original mole is much wider than a punch biopsy, then an excisional biopsy will be done in my case, not a deep shave.  Punches have limitations on width.  But I always want to get the depth info as it is much more important than a side margin not being totally clear.  Derms LOVE shaves because they are quick and easy and require no followups.  But ask your derm if he had melanoma and I bet he'd have an excisional biopsy on himself.

I only remove moles that change so am not subject to a lot of biopsies – my body seems to have mellowed out over the last 22 years and I get few that change anymore.  But if it changes, I won't be having a shave.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I've seen countless people here who have had shave biopsies that do NOT get the full depth.  They only know their depth is at least as deep as the scoop went.  To me, depth is THE #1 CRITERIA and shaves don't guarantee depth.  So I choose never to do a shave.  This is what is best for me.  If you and your doc think a shave is always best for your future and you know he will always go "deep enough",  then that works for you!

It's a matter of opinion.  My mel onc will NEVER do a shave on a suspected melanoma because it is not a FULL SKIN THICKNESS biopsy.  Deep shaves cannot guarantee full skin thickness and if they aren't thick enough, you lose staging info.  Period.  Besides, shaves hurt much more while healing and look worse when they are done.  I will never have another one for those reasons either.  Obviously, the original poster is not getting clean margins on her shaves or else she would not be having regrowth.

There is a time and a place for all biopsy types.  If the original mole is much wider than a punch biopsy, then an excisional biopsy will be done in my case, not a deep shave.  Punches have limitations on width.  But I always want to get the depth info as it is much more important than a side margin not being totally clear.  Derms LOVE shaves because they are quick and easy and require no followups.  But ask your derm if he had melanoma and I bet he'd have an excisional biopsy on himself.

I only remove moles that change so am not subject to a lot of biopsies – my body seems to have mellowed out over the last 22 years and I get few that change anymore.  But if it changes, I won't be having a shave.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I've seen countless people here who have had shave biopsies that do NOT get the full depth.  They only know their depth is at least as deep as the scoop went.  To me, depth is THE #1 CRITERIA and shaves don't guarantee depth.  So I choose never to do a shave.  This is what is best for me.  If you and your doc think a shave is always best for your future and you know he will always go "deep enough",  then that works for you!

My derm said that deep shave is much better than a punch biopsy which doesn't get clean margins. he showed me this study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12637923

Yes, not my favorite biopsy type for the very reason you describe.  If the biopsy happened to be melanoma, it might cut through the lesion and you lose important staging information.  Ideally, you want the entire lesion removed with a biopsy and if you are having regrowth, that means the entire lesion isn't removed.  I, personally, prefer punch biopsies but many derms don't like those as well because they require more time to do and also require stitches.  Shaves are easy for derms.  But if it is being biopsied as a possible melanoma, then I refuse to have a shave done.

Yes, not my favorite biopsy type for the very reason you describe.  If the biopsy happened to be melanoma, it might cut through the lesion and you lose important staging information.  Ideally, you want the entire lesion removed with a biopsy and if you are having regrowth, that means the entire lesion isn't removed.  I, personally, prefer punch biopsies but many derms don't like those as well because they require more time to do and also require stitches.  Shaves are easy for derms.  But if it is being biopsied as a possible melanoma, then I refuse to have a shave done.