Microcore Skin Biopsies: A Novel, Micro-Invasive Skin Biopsy Technique Yielding Full-Thickness Histology.

Animal / preclinicalSkin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI)· Jul 2026

Microcore Skin Biopsies: A Novel, Micro-Invasive Skin Biopsy Technique Yielding Full-Thickness Histology.

Rebecca Lapides, Ga Ram Ahn, Kenechi Iwelumo … Dieter Manstein

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DermatopathologyAnimal / preclinicalQ1IF 2.6

Novel needle technique yields full-thickness skin samples under 0.5 mm diameter

Microcore Skin Biopsies: A Novel, Micro-Invasive Skin Biopsy Technique Yielding Full-Thickness Histology.

Rebecca Lapides … Dieter Manstein

Skin research and technology · Jul 2026 · Q1 in Dermatology

Background

Punch biopsies are considered the primary technique to obtain full-thickness skin specimens for dermatologic diagnoses.

Purpose

To introduce a novel micro-biopsy technique utilizing a modified hypodermic needle to achieve full-thickness skin micro-columns and a streamlined post-sampling process for histological analysis.

Methods

Ex-vivo skin biopsies were taken using a modified hypodermic needle and compared to 3 mm punch biopsies.

Results

0.5

mm

smaller than the scarring threshold, so healing leaves no visible scar

More results

The technique consistently yielded uniform, columnar-shaped histological samples.

These sections were of sufficient quality to perform staining with a significantly smaller horizontal shrinkage rate compared to standard 3 mm punch biopsies.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

We demonstrate a novel technique for a skin micro-biopsy that allows for fixation and processing of the tissue inside the sampling instrument, yielding small, full-thickness columnar skin histological samples that can be used for dermatological diagnosis with minimal post-sampling deformation.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Punch biopsies are considered the primary technique to obtain full-thickness skin specimens in order to diagnose skin conditions.

Microcore Skin Biopsies: A Novel, Micro-Invasive Skin Biopsy Technique Yielding Full-Thickness Histology.

Microcore Skin Biopsies: A Novel, Micro-Invasive Skin Biopsy Technique Yielding Full-Thickness Histology.

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