ARtEFActS duRInG oRAL BIoPSY PRocEduRES

IntRoductIon A biopsy is the removal of part, or all, of a lesion, to enable histopathological examination and definite diagnosis. The word, ‘biopsy’ has been derived from the Greek words, ‘Bios’ (life) and ‘Opsis’ (vision): vision of life. Biopsy is the gold standard diagnostic procedure for obtaining adequate representative tissue for histopathological evaluation, for arriving at a final diagnosis [1]. The application of biopsy in the management of oral lesions includes a sequence of steps: adequate data collection, competent diagnostic skills, proper surgical management, evaluation and representation of the pathologist’s report and comprehensive patient follow-up [2]. Numerous types of artefacts can affect the biopsy specimen at any of the above mentioned stages.