It is vital to have a board-certified dermatopathologist interpret skin biopsies, as even routine cases can be misdiagnosed by other providers.  Dr. Hure interprets all skin biopsies done at OC SkinLab and routinely accepts outside specimens for processing and diagnosis.  In addition, consultations on slides previously read by another provider are happily accepted.  Dr. Hure believes everyone deserves to understand their pathology reports and will personally review them with patients and referring clinicians.

For Patients

If a biopsy is taken, you can expect to have a result within five business days depending on the complexity of the case.  Once the biopsy is taken it is processed and placed on a glass slide.  Dr. Hure will interpret the slide and determine if additional studies, such as special staining techniques, need to be done.  Once a diagnosis is reached, Dr. Hure will contact you with the results and follow-up instructions.

For Providers

For those clinicians who routinely take skin biopsies of their patients, it is important to know what happens to your specimens once they leave your office.  Specimens sent to large national pathology labs are routinely interpreted by junior general pathologists, usually unavailable for direct contact.   Your specimens can, instead, be sent directly to OC SkinLab for processing and interpretation.  You will have the peace of mind that your patient will have an expert board-certified dermatopathologist handling the specimen and reviewing the case.  In addition, referring clinicians have direct access to communicate with Dr. Hure regarding their cases.  All critical diagnoses, such as a new melanoma diagnosis, will be personally relayed by Dr. Hure.

All healthcare providers, from dentists to podiatrists, have the potential to offer some level of skin cancer detection to their patients.  For providers who wish to integrate skin biopsy into their practice, Dr. Hure is available to meet with you and your staff to provide both training in appropriate biopsy techniques and recognition of common skin lesions.