A close shave

A Close Shave with Realism: How Ockham's Razor Helps Us Find The Truth

Many distinct theories are compatible with current experience. Scientific realists recommend that we choose the simplest. Anti-realists object that such appeals to “Ockham’s razor” cannot be truth-conducive, since they lead us astray in complex worlds. I argue, on behalf of the realist, that always preferring the simplest theory compatible with experience is necessary for efficient convergence ...

[To shave or not to shave].

Dermal electrosurgical shave excision.

The dermal electrosurgical shave excision is a fast and inexpensive method of removing epidermal and dermal lesions. The procedure is ideally suited for pedunculated lesions raised above the level of the surrounding skin. It consists of repetitive, unidirectional, horizontal slicing of a cutaneous lesion with a no. 15 blade followed by electrosurgical feathering to smooth out the wound edges. A...

Shave and punch biopsy for skin lesions.

Shave and punch biopsies are essential procedures for physicians who manage skin conditions. These office-based procedures can diagnose questionable dermatologic lesions, including possible malignancies. Approaches include the superficial shave biopsy, saucerization excision, punch biopsy, and elliptical excision. A superficial shave biopsy can be used for raised lesions. A saucerization biopsy...

Cryobiopsy: An alternative technique to conventional shave biopsy.

To the Editor: Skin biopsies usually require local anesthetic (LA). LA can cause pain and distress especially in needle phobic individuals. Cryobiopsy is an alternative to shave biopsy under LA, in that it enables the removal of a fragment of tissue without the need for LA. In this study, we assessed the level of pain in patients undergoing skin cryobiopsy as well as the tissue usefulness for h...