What is the area of biopsy of an ulcer?

 # What is the area of biopsy of an ulcer?

A. Center of ulcer 

B. Edge of ulcer 

C. Adjacent mucosa 

D. Margins of ulcer

The correct answer is B. Edge of ulcer.

The edge of the ulcer is the preferred site for biopsy because it is most likely to contain a mixture of both the pathological tissue and relatively healthy tissue, making it easier to assess the nature of the lesion. The center of the ulcer may contain necrotic tissue, which can obscure diagnosis, while adjacent mucosa and margins might not provide the necessary diagnostic material.

While the terms "edge" and "margin" may seem similar, in the context of ulcer biopsy, they refer to different areas:

Edge of the ulcer: This refers to the transitional zone where the ulcerated tissue meets the adjacent normal or mildly affected tissue. It contains a mix of pathological changes (inflammation, dysplasia, or neoplastic transformation) and some relatively intact tissue. This makes it ideal for biopsy because it provides a clearer picture of the disease process.

Margin of the ulcer: This term typically refers to the boundary or outer rim of the ulcer where the surrounding tissue is largely unaffected or healthy. A biopsy from the margin might miss the abnormal cellular changes that are occurring in the active disease area.

In summary, the edge includes both ulcerated and transitioning tissue, making it more useful for diagnosis, whereas the margin is often farther out in the healthier tissue, which may not show the necessary pathological changes.