The utility of skin biopsies in pediatric cancer patients: A single-institution, retrospective review

Medical records of all patients who were diagnosed with a malignancy and wh o underwent a skin biopsy were reviewed to determine the clinical utility o f skin biopsies in this population, Skin biopsies resulted in a change or r efinement of the prebiopsy diagnosis in 44% of patients undergoing an initi al evaluation for a malignancy, 57% of patients on therapy, and 17% of pati ents off therapy. Skin biopsies led to a change in therapy in 26%, 34%, and 17% of each respective group. Overall, the skin biopsy changed or refined the prebiopsy diagnosis in 45% of cases and altered therapy in 38%. Skin bi opsy is a clinically useful tool in pediatric oncology patients for the eva luation of cutaneous findings that elude diagnosis by visual inspection.