Genital Disorders in Children: What Does a Biopsy Bring?

Biopsies are only performed in less than 1% of all consultations dedicated to paediatric genital dermatology. The objectives of this paper are to review and clarify the histopathological features of the conditions most often biopsied: first, lichen sclerosus, which has a peak incidence in childhood and progresses over years; secondly, pigmented lesions, including atypical genital naevi and common naevi in the context of lichen sclerosus, both histologically differential diagnoses of melanoma, which probably does not present in childhood. And finally, Crohn's disease, which is a cause of vulval oedema or genital ulceration.