1. Not all that glitters is COVID‐19: a case series demonstrating the need for histopathology when skin findings accompany SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.
- Author
-
Barrera‐Godínez, A., Méndez‐Flores, S., Gatica‐Torres, M., Rosales‐Sotomayor, A., Campos‐Jiménez, K.I., Carrillo‐Córdova, D.M., Durand‐Muñoz, M.C., Mena‐Hernández, G.L., Melchor‐Mendoza, Y.K., Ruelas‐Villavicencio, A.L., García‐Irigoyen, A., Acatitla‐Acevedo, G.A., Toussaint‐Caire, S., and Domínguez‐Cherit, J.
- Subjects
COVID-19 pandemic ,SARS-CoV-2 ,COVID-19 ,HISTOPATHOLOGY ,CUTANEOUS manifestations of general diseases - Abstract
Background: Descriptions of cutaneous findings associated with COVID‐19 have not been consistently accompanied by histopathology or confirmatory testing for SARS‐CoV‐2. Objective: To describe and classify the cutaneous findings with supporting histopathology of confirmed COVID‐19 inpatients. Methods: We included consecutive inpatients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID‐19 for whom a dermatology consult was requested. A skin biopsy was performed in all cases. Skin findings were classified as being compatible with a cutaneous manifestation of COVID‐19 or as representing a distinct clinical entity. Results: Twenty‐eight patients were studied in whom thirty‐one dermatologic diagnoses were made. Twenty‐two of the dermatoses were compatible with a cutaneous manifestation of COVID‐19; nine entities were not associated with infection by SARS‐CoV‐2. The most common COVID‐19‐associated pattern was an exanthematous presentation. In four patients, a new pattern was observed, characterized by discrete papules with varied histopathological findings including a case of neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis. No cases of pernio‐like lesions were identified. Skin findings not associated with COVID‐19 represented 29% of diagnoses and included Malassezia folliculitis, tinea, miliaria and contact dermatitis. Limitations: There is no gold‐standard test to distinguish between viral exanthems and drug reactions. Conclusion: A histopathological study is critical before attributing skin findings to a manifestation of COVID‐19. Linked Commentary: F. Rongioletti. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2021; 35: 1742–1743. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.17414. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF