Skin and Soft Tissue: Abscess, Excision of BCC/SCC
Specialist histopathology for abscess tissue or excised BCC/SCC specimens, with microscopic assessment to support diagnosis and follow-up.
Turnaround time
7 business days
Biomarkers count
1
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Overview of the Skin and Soft Tissue: Abscess, Excision of BCC/SCC Test
The Skin and Soft Tissue: Abscess, Excision of BCC/SCC service provides histopathological examination of tissue associated with an abscess or an excised Basal Cell Carcinoma or Squamous Cell Carcinoma specimen.
These are clinically different conditions and should not be treated as interchangeable.
An abscess is a localised collection of pus caused by inflammation, commonly associated with infection. Where tissue is removed during management, histology can assess inflammatory and surrounding tissue changes.
Routine histopathology is different from microbiological culture.
If identification of the organism causing an abscess is required, an appropriate culture specimen may also be needed.
Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma are forms of non-melanoma skin cancer.
For an excised BCC or SCC specimen, histopathology establishes the tumour type and can provide important information about the microscopic features and specimen margins.
Not every suspected skin cancer is suitable for routine minor surgery. Location, size, recurrent disease, histological subtype and other risk factors can require dermatology, plastic surgery or specialist skin-cancer management.
The service costs £399.
What Does the Skin and Soft Tissue: Abscess, Excision of BCC/SCC Test Check?
This service includes 1 specialist histopathology investigation based on the submitted tissue specimen.
Skin and Soft Tissue: Abscess, Excision of BCC/SCC
Microscopic examination of submitted abscess-associated tissue or an excised BCC/SCC specimen to assess inflammatory changes or confirm and characterise the skin tumour where present.
Who May Benefit From the Skin and Soft Tissue: Abscess, Excision of BCC/SCC Test?
This service is relevant where tissue has been clinically obtained for histological examination.
People undergoing appropriate surgical management of an abscess - Removed tissue can be examined histologically when indicated.
People with a clinically suspected or previously diagnosed BCC requiring excision - Histology confirms the tissue diagnosis.
People with a clinically suspected or previously diagnosed SCC requiring excision - Microscopic examination provides definitive pathological information.
People requiring assessment of excision margins - The pathology report may provide information about whether tumour reaches the examined specimen margins.
People referred for removal of a suspicious non-melanoma skin lesion - Histology can establish the diagnosis.
People whose clinician has requested tissue pathology - Direct tissue examination is the appropriate laboratory investigation.
How to Prepare
Do not stop prescribed medication without medical advice.
Where infection is suspected, the clinician may also recommend microbiological culture because histology and culture answer different clinical questions.
Symptoms and Reasons to Consider the Skin and Soft Tissue: Abscess, Excision of BCC/SCC Test
The clinical features differ considerably between abscesses and skin cancers.
A painful swollen area containing pus - An abscess may require drainage or other clinical treatment.
Increasing redness, warmth or tenderness - These can occur with an inflamed or infected abscess.
A persistent pearly or ulcerated skin lesion - Some BCCs can present in this way and require clinical assessment.
A scaly, crusted or non-healing lesion - SCC and other skin conditions can present with persistent surface changes.
A lesion that repeatedly bleeds - Persistent bleeding warrants clinical review.
A previously biopsied BCC or SCC requiring excision - Histology can assess the removed tissue.
A rapidly changing skin lesion - Prompt clinical assessment is important rather than assuming a lesion is benign.
Rapidly spreading infection, high fever, severe pain, confusion or systemic illness requires urgent medical assessment.
A suspicious pigmented lesion or possible melanoma requires an appropriate skin-cancer pathway rather than assuming it is a BCC or SCC.
How to Book Your Skin and Soft Tissue: Abscess, Excision of BCC/SCC Test
The service requires clinic-based assessment and an appropriate tissue specimen.
Choose the Skin and Soft Tissue: Abscess, Excision of BCC/SCC Service
Select the £399 service.
Arrange your clinical assessment
The condition is assessed to confirm the appropriate procedure and whether specialist referral is required.
Attend your appointment
An appropriately qualified clinician performs the indicated procedure where suitable.
Laboratory analysis
Submitted tissue is fixed, processed and examined histologically.
Receive your results securely
Your pathology report is returned securely after authorisation.
When Will I Receive My Results?
Histopathology results are generally expected within approximately 7 working days after laboratory receipt.
Complex cancer specimens may require deeper sections, additional stains or specialist review and may therefore take longer.
Understanding Your Results
For an abscess-associated specimen, histology may describe acute or chronic inflammation and other tissue changes.
Histology does not necessarily identify which bacterium caused an abscess. Microbiological culture is a different test.
For BCC or SCC, the pathology report confirms the tumour type and can describe relevant histological features.
Where the lesion has been excised, the report may state whether tumour is present at or close to the examined margins.
Further treatment may be required if margins are involved or if other high-risk pathological features are identified.
Results should therefore be reviewed by the clinician responsible for treatment.
Why Book With London Blood Tests?
London Blood Tests provides clinic-based access to skin and soft tissue procedures with specialist histopathological examination.
Histopathology of submitted tissue - Direct microscopic examination provides tissue-level information.
BCC and SCC assessment - Excised non-melanoma skin cancers can be confirmed pathologically.
Margin information where applicable - Excision specimens may provide information about completeness of removal.
Abscess tissue assessment - Histology can assess inflammatory tissue where clinically indicated.
Clear distinction from microbiology - Culture can be arranged separately where identification of infection is required.
Clinic-based care - Procedures are performed in an appropriate clinical environment.
Approximately 7-working-day turnaround - More complex pathology can require additional time.
Clear pricing - The service costs £399.
Private Skin and Soft Tissue: Abscess, Excision of BCC/SCC in London
London Blood Tests provides private clinic-based skin and soft tissue histopathology for appropriate abscess-associated tissue and excised BCC/SCC specimens.
The service costs £399.
Results are generally expected within approximately seven working days following laboratory receipt.