Suture localization of scalp biopsy sites

Abstract

Common methods in dermatology, alone or in combination, for surgical site identification are HIPAA-compliant biopsy site photography, descriptive triangulation with anatomic landmarks, diagrams, and patient or caregiver site identification.1 Inability to accurately identify the surgical site is often multifactorial and can result in delays in care, wrong-site surgery, and medical lawsuits. Specifically, surgical sites on the scalp pose a significant risk of misidentification due to lack of specific, fixed anatomic landmarks, difficulty producing high-quality photographs on a dense hair-bearing scalp, and limited or absent patient visualization.