• Curettage is usually performed for non-melanoma neoplasms on which an initial biopsy has already been performed and the diagnosis is certain.  It is done to rid the patient of residual tumor, and the base of the surgical site is often burned to ensure a margin free of tumor; therefore, histologic resection margins are not important and usually cannot be determined with accuracy anyway.
• These specimens arrive as multiple small fragments which usually cannot be oriented.  An aggregate measurement, plus the measurement of the largest fragment, is sufficient.
• It is not always necessary to slice these specimens; only do so if the fragments are too large to fit in the cassette, or if you can distinguish skin surface from deep aspect and are able to cut perpendicular to the skin surface.
• There is no need to ink the specimen.

Submit the entire biopsy.

Internal use only

Received without fixative/in formalin, labeled ______ and “______”, are multiple, tan soft tissue fragments measuring in aggregate __ x ­­__ x __ cm.  The largest fragment measures __ x __ x __ cm and has _____ on the skin surface.  Entirely submitted in #__.

__ blocks, __ H&E