Alopecic and Aseptic Nodules of the Scalp/Pseudocyst of the Scalp: Clinicopathological and Therapeutic Analyses in 11 Korean Patients.

BACKGROUND

Alopecic and aseptic nodule of the scalp (AANS) is a rare disease entity first reported in 1992 as pseudocyst of the scalp (PCS). Controversy exists regarding the histopathology and etiology of reported cases.

OBJECTIVE

We performed this study to analyze the clinical and histopathologic features of AANS/PCS in Korean patients.

METHODS

A retrospective review of medical records from 2008 to 2013 at Inje University Busan Paik Hospital was performed.

RESULTS

Eleven patients were enrolled. All patients were male, and their mean age was 21.6 years. Most patients had a solitary nodule (10/11) located predominantly on the vertex. The mean nodule size was 20 mm. Inflammatory cell infiltration in the deep dermis was a histologic feature of AANS/PCS. Eight patients showed granulomatous infiltration. All patients were treated with short-term antibiotics and intralesional steroid injection.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that dermatologists should consider AANS when diagnosing an alopecic nodule on the scalp.