Pattern of skin diseases prompting biopsy before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

INTRODUCTION: Less biopsies were expected when large scale social restrictions were enforced during COVID-19 pandemic.

AIM: To compare the skin diseases prompting biopsy before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of skin diseases was performed; the skin problems were then grouped into major histopathological reactions.

RESULTS: A total of 229 biopsies were performed before the COVID-19 outbreak, whereas only 160 biopsies were done during the pandemic. Before versus during the outbreak, the proportion of major reactions were granulomatous 20.52% vs 21.88%, neoplasms 17.47% vs 20%, psoriasiform 14.85% vs 10%, vesiculobullous 9.61% vs 8.75%, others 10.92% vs 7.50%, interface dermatitis 6.99% vs 10%, vasculopathy 6.99% vs 5.63%, spongiotic 6.55% vs 8.13%, panniculitis 3.49% vs 3.75%, and superficial and deep dermal infiltrate 2.62% vs 4.38%.

CONCLUSION: A decreased total number of patients prompting less biopsies were reported during the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the three largest percentages of major histopathological reactions were still similar, namely granulomatous, neoplasms, and psoriasiform.