Neonatal Dermatopathology: A 10-Year Institutional Review

Abstract

Background/objective

Neonatal skin conditions are typically diagnosed through noninvasive methods. Few studies describe the spectrum of biopsy- evaluated neonatal skin lesions. We present our institutional experience with the conditions leading to skin biopsies in neonates. The objective is to describe the conditions for which skin biopsies are performed in neonatal patients.

Methods

There were 20 neonatal skin biopsies over a 10-year period from the hospital’s delivery unit, NICU, and pediatric hospital. Biopsies were categorized as inflammatory (not caused by an infectious agent), congenital, neoplastic, infectious, and vascular conditions.

Results

The patients’ ages ranged from 1 day to 4 weeks, with a male predominance. There were 6 inflammatory, 7 congenital, 5 neoplastic, 1 infectious, and 1 vascular lesions.

Conclusions

The most frequent neonatal skin biopsy lesions were inflammatory or congenital lesions. This review described the types of neonatal dermatopathology specimens that we encountered in practice.

Keywords:

• Neonatal dermatopathology
• skin biopsy
• neonatal skin conditions
• neonatal dermatosis

Authors contributions

Dr. Allie Preston primarily oversaw task delegation and was a main author of the manuscript. Cynthia Lee, BS, was responsible for conducting a comprehensive chart review, organizing database information, and also held a key role as a main manuscript author. Drs. Martin Fernandez and Sophia Hendrick took an essential role as manuscript editors.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability Statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Baylor Scott and White Departments of Dermatology and Pathology.