Lip & Oral Biopsies

Lesions of the mouth often fall between specialties: too far inside for many dermatologists, outside the territory of most physicians. Our surgeons perform biopsies of the lip, the gums, and the tongue as brief office procedures under local anesthetic.

These biopsies do two different jobs. The first is diagnosing growths — a lump, sore, or patch that needs a name before it can be treated. The second is confirming inflammatory and autoimmune conditions: a biopsy can establish oral lichen planus, and a small sample from the inside of the lip — where the minor salivary glands sit — helps confirm Sjögren's syndrome. Either way, the tissue goes to pathology and you get an answer.