Dermoscope rubber stamping: A simpler technique for marking the optimal site for a dermoscopy-guided biopsy

Soumil Khare; Satyaki Ganguly

doi:10.25259/IJDVL_146_2025

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Pearls

91 (

6

); 844-844

doi:

10.25259/IJDVL_146_2025

Dermoscope rubber stamping: A simpler technique for marking the optimal site for a dermoscopy-guided biopsy

Soumil Khare^1,, Satyaki Ganguly¹

1Department of Dermatology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, India

Corresponding author: Dr. Soumil Khare, Department of Dermatology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Raipur, India. soumil_park@yahoo.co.in

Received: 2025-01-21, Accepted: 2025-07-16, Epub ahead of print: 2025-09-15, Published: 2025-10-17

Licence

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike 4.0 License, which allows others to remix, transform, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as the author is credited and the new creations are licensed under the identical terms.

How to cite this article: Khare S, Ganguly S. Dermoscope rubber stamping: A simpler technique for marking the optimal site for a dermoscopy-guided biopsy. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2025;91:844. doi: 10.25259/IJDVL_146_2025

Problem

Marking an accurate biopsy site with a hand-held dermoscope is challenging, even with the help of a spacer.

Solution

A technique involving an ink rubber stamp that can be pressed onto the contact plate of the dermoscope [Figure 1], followed by observation through the dermoscope in non-contact mode for finding an appropriate site. Subsequently, the contact plate can be pressed on the appropriate site, thus transferring the ink from the contact plate to the chosen site and marking the biopsy site, which can be visualised grossly on removing the dermoscope [Video 1]. Additionally, the stamp’s size can be customised; for example, when used for scalp biopsies, a circular stamp with a diameter of 4 mm is utilised, which directly corresponds to the 4 mm punch required for scalp biopsies. This method effectively overcomes the difficulties faced with marking the exact biopsy site, which is chosen during the dermoscopic examination. It enhances the histopathological analysis while also aiding in the assessment of particular characteristics found within the marked biopsy region. This can further improve dermoscopic-histopathological correlation.¹ Potential limitations of this technique include smudging of the ink onto the contact plate and at the site. It can also cause cross-infection if the plate is not sterilised before and after marking infectious conditions, and the patient may develop sensitivity to the ink.

Video 1: Demonstration on how to stamp the contact plate of the dermoscope, followed by pressing the dermoscope onto the ideal biopsy site, transferring the ink to the site, thus marking the site for biopsy.

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The image shows the stamp (black circle - stamp design), dermoscope, and the stamp marking on the contact plate (red arrow).

Declaration of patient consent

Patient’s consent not required as there are no patients in this study.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

Use of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted technology for manuscript preparation

The authors confirm that there was no use of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted technology for assisting in the writing or editing of the manuscript and no images were manipulated using AI.

Reference

Miteva M, Tosti A. Dermoscopy guided scalp biopsy in cicatricial alopecia. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2013;27:1299-303.
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