Dermoscopic findings in radiation-induced alopecia after angioembolization.

BACKGROUND

Cases of non-scarring alopecia after endovascular brain surgery have been reported, but dermoscopic findings of these lesions have rarely been published.

OBJECTIVE

To report the dermoscopic findings for alopecic skin lesions that developed after radiation exposure during angioembolization.

METHODS

Dermoscopic examination was used to evaluate alopecic skin lesions in 10 patients who presented with post-angioembolization alopecia.

RESULTS

The male to female ratio was 1:4, mean age 55.0 ± 12.3 years and mean duration to lesion development 3.4 ± 2.5 weeks. The rectangular-shaped lesions mostly occurred at the occiput and temple areas. Both yellow and black dots were the predominant dermoscopic findings in 60% (6/10) of patients, followed by short vellus hair (50%), peripilar sign (20%), broken hair (10%), coiled hair (10%) and white dots (10%).

CONCLUSIONS

Alopecic skin lesions induced by radiation exposure during angioembolization share characteristic dermoscopy findings with alopecia areata. They may be misdiagnosed if a precise history is not obtained.