Insights from a joint pediatric dermatology-gynecology vulvar clinic: A retrospective study.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2024

Identifier

DOI: 10.1111/pde.15489

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Pediatric vulvar disease has not been widely explored in the medical literature. Few studies focus on vulvar disease in skin of color. The vulvar disease can be distressing for young patients given the sensitive location, and providers may lack experience in diagnosing and managing vulvar dermatoses. We sought to characterize the conditions seen, diagnostic challenges encountered, and the racial and ethnic factors associated with vulvar diseases in our multidisciplinary pediatric dermatology-gynecology vulvar clinic at Children's National.

METHODS: Medical records of 220 patients who presented to our multidisciplinary pediatric dermatology-gynecology clinic were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS: Lichen sclerosus (LS) (36%, n = 80), inflammatory vulvitis (11%, n = 23), and vitiligo (9%, n = 19) were the three most frequent conditions observed. These conditions were often misdiagnosed as one another. There was a mean delay in diagnosis after symptom onset in LS patients of 16.43 months.

CONCLUSIONS: LS, inflammatory vulvitis, and vitiligo are common vulvar diseases among pediatric patients. Accurate diagnosis is important because LS must be treated aggressively to prevent sequelae. Further studies are warranted to help differentiate LS and vitiligo with consideration of skin tone.

Journal Title

Pediatric dermatology

Volume

41

Issue

1

First Page

41

Last Page

45

MeSH Keywords

Female; Child; Humans; Retrospective Studies; Vitiligo; Dermatology; Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus; Vulvar Diseases; Vulvitis; Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus

Keywords

hypopigmentation; vitiligo; vulvar diseases; vulvar lichen sclerosus; vulvitis

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