Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

Diagnosis

Mayo Clinic emphasizes a thorough evaluation using the latest technology to diagnose nonmelanoma skin cancer. To make a diagnosis, your doctor first performs a detailed skin exam. Additional tests used for diagnosis may include those described below.

Biopsies

Your doctor may remove a small skin sample (biopsy) for examination by a pathologist. If your doctor suspects that the cancer has spread beyond your skin, you may also have a lymph node biopsy. Mayo Clinic's pathologists are internationally known for their expertise in assessing biopsy tissue samples.

Imaging tests

You may have imaging tests to help determine whether the cancer has spread. Mayo Clinic has an international reputation for top-quality imaging and rapid test results. In tests that involve radiation, specialists carefully monitor doses to avoid the risk of radiation overexposure. Your doctor may recommend one or more of these scans:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Computerized tomography (CT)
• Positron emission tomography (PET)

Read more about skin biopsy, MRI, CT scan and PET scan.