Core Concepts
Understanding pediatric skin biopsy trends and patterns is crucial for informed medical decision-making in dermatology clinics.
Stats
Among more than 1,000 skin biopsies performed over the last 6 years by pediatric dermatologists at UCSF, the three most common biopsy results were compound nevus, pyogenic granuloma, and spongiotic dermatitis.
Fewer biopsies were performed in the first 3 years of the global COVID-19 pandemic than in the previous 3 years.
Half of the patients were female, their mean age was 11.5 years, and they ranged in age from 1 day to 61 years.
Nearly half of biopsies (47%) were performed in patients aged 12-18 years and one-quarter (25.6%) were performed in those aged 6-11 years.
The five most common biopsy results were compound nevus (99 biopsies), pyogenic granuloma (96), spongiotic dermatitis (57), intradermal nevus (53), and pilomatricoma (40).
30 malignant diagnoses in 28 unique patients were identified.
There was a statistically significant decrease in the number of biopsies during the pandemic compared with the 3 years prior to the pandemic (P = .04).
Quotes
"The work is important because very few pediatric patients, relative to adult patients seen in dermatology clinics, have a biopsy done." - Kelly M. Cordoro, MD
"Our data showed that neoplastic conditions were biopsied more often than inflammatory conditions, with an emphasis on lesions that required removal (such as pyogenic granuloma), raised concerns for atypia (nevi), or had implications for systemic management." - Dr. Cordoro