Genital Disorders in Children: What Does a Biopsy Bring?

Area of Science:

• Dermatopathology
• Paediatric Dermatology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Biopsies are infrequent in paediatric genital dermatology consultations, occurring in less than 1% of cases.
• Understanding key histopathological findings is crucial for accurate diagnosis in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and clarify the histopathological features of commonly biopsied conditions in paediatric genital dermatology.
• To aid in the differential diagnosis of vulvar lesions and conditions in children.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on histopathological characteristics.
• Analysis of diagnostic criteria for specific paediatric genital dermatological conditions.

Main Results:

• Lichen sclerosus: Characterized by specific histopathological changes, with peak incidence in childhood.
• Pigmented lesions: Includes atypical and common nevi in the context of lichen sclerosus, important differential diagnoses for melanoma.
• Crohn's disease: Histopathological findings associated with vulvar edema or genital ulceration.

Conclusions:

• Histopathological examination is essential for diagnosing lichen sclerosus, pigmented lesions, and Crohn's disease in paediatric genital dermatology.
• Accurate histopathological interpretation helps differentiate benign conditions from rare malignancies like melanoma in children.