The incorrect use of biopsy techniques can increase differential diagnosis complexity of oral lesions [A utilizacão de técnicas incorrectas de biopsia pode aumentar a complexidade do diagnóstico diferencial de lesões orais]

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to describe a case of a relatively common oral pathological lesion which diagnosis became "complex" because of previous biopsies performed without observing all technical requirements. This is a female patient, 49 years old, showing sessile submucosal tumor in the right lower lip with a history of 10 years of evolution. On clinical examination there was a lesion about 3. cm in diameter, painless, with the overlying mucosa erythematous and with decreased tactile sensitivity. Featured wine-stains on his right elbow and back. Patient underwent two biopsies and used several drugs without clinical improvement or definite diagnosis because the pathologic reports, because of lack of representativeness of the biopsy material, showed only chronic inflammatory process. After differential diagnosis made by a dentist and a dermatologist it was decided to perform a third biopsy, excisional this time, which allowed a definitive diagnosis of the lesion. © 2011 Sociedade Portuguesa de Estomatologia e Medicina Dentária.