Utility of pattern-based approach to skin biopsies in pediatric non-infectious inflammatory diseases: a review of 140 cases

BackgroundSkin diseases constitute a significant burden in the pediatric age group and demand a separate evaluation from adult dermatoses as both vary in mode of presentation, prognosis, and line of treatment.ObjectiveTo evaluate the histopathologic spectrum of skin biopsies in pediatric noninfectious inflammatory diseases pediatric inflammatory diseases and its correlation with clinical findings.Patients and methodsThis was a retrospective study that included a total of 140 skin biopsies of noninfectious inflammatory dermatoses in children aged up to 18 years. The clinical differential diagnoses were compared with histopathologic diagnoses; concordance and discordance were calculated.ResultsOf the 140 patients, histopathologic diagnoses of 109 (77.9%) patients were concordant with the clinical diagnoses, whereas 23 (16.4%) showed discordance, among which 18 (78.3%) showed major discordance, while the remaining five (21.7%) cases had minor discordance. The remaining eight (5.7%) cases were inconclusive.ConclusionHistopathology is still the best tool for diagnosis in the majority of pediatric inflammatory dermatoses. Effective communication between the clinician and the pathologist and thorough clinical correlation enhances the value of the skin biopsies