Unnecessary Biopsy?

Abstract

The clinical description of the little girl's disease which is provided in the article by Manzella et al1 is certainly sufficient for a diagnosis, and biopsy rather than being "essential" is an unnecessary and unwarranted intervention. I am puzzled by the diagnostic term "toxic epidermal necrolysis" as used here. What is described is a typical instance of erythema multiforme bullosa (Stevens-Johnson syndrome), a disorder which involves the mucous membranes as well as the skin. This entity is readily distinguishable from the staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (toxic epidermal necrolysis, staphylococcal scarlet fever, Ritter's disease of the newborn) by the fact that the latter patients exhibit neither bullae nor mucous membrane involvement.