Abstract
Background: Alopecia can be a manifestation of mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS), but the prevalence is unknown. Objective: We sought to describe the clinicopathologic presentation and molecular features of alopecia in patients with MF/SS. Methods: A retrospective chart review of a prospectively collected MF/SS database was used to identify patients with alopecia. The National Alopecia Areata Registry was used to identify patients with self-reported cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Results: Among 1550 patients with MF/SS, 38 patients with patchy, total-scalp, or universal alopecia were identified. Thirteen of 38 (34%) had patchy alopecia clinically identical to alopecia areata. Scalp biopsy specimens were available in 5 of the 13 patients. Specimens from 4 patients had atypical T lymphocytes within the follicular epithelium or epidermis, and that from two patients had a histology of follicular mucinosis. The remaining 25 of 38 (66%) patients with MF/SS included 20 with alopecia within discreet patch/plaque or follicular lesions of MF and 5 with total-body hair loss, which presented only in those with generalized erythroderma and SS. Limitations: This was a retrospective study done at one cancer center. Biopsy specimens of alopecia were not available for every patient. Conclusions: Alopecia was observed in 2.5% of patients with MF/SS, with alopecia areata-like patchy loss in 34% and alopecia within MF lesions in 66%.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 53-63 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology |
Volume | 64 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2011 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin (NIAMS) Funded National Alopecia Registry and the Sherry L. Anderson Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) Research Fund .
Copyright:
Copyright 2011 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Keywords
- alopecia areata
- alopecia mucinosa
- autoimmune hair loss
- cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
- follicular mucinosis
- folliculotropic mycosis fungoides