Pseudomalignancies in Children: Histological Clues, and Pitfalls to Be Avoided.

The term "pseudomalignancy" covers a large, heterogenous group of diseases characterized by a benign cellular proliferation, hyperplasia, or infiltrate that resembles a true malignancy clinically or histologically. Here, we (i) provide a non-exhaustive review of several inflammatory skin diseases and benign skin proliferations that can mimic a malignant neoplasm in children, (ii) give pathologists some helpful clues to guide their diagnosis, and (iii) highlight pitfalls to be avoided. The observation of clinical-pathological correlations is often important in this situation and can sometimes be the only means (along with careful monitoring of the disease's clinical course) of reaching a firm diagnosis.