The spectrum of hair loss in patients with mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome.

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%.

• Authors: Ming Yang Bi, Jonathan L Curry, Angela M Christiano, Maria K Hordinsky, David A Norris, Vera H Price, Madeleine Duvic
• Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (J Am Acad Dermatol) Vol. 64 Issue 1 Pg. 53-63 (Jan 2011) ISSN: 1097-6787 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21036417 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Adult
• Age Distribution
• Aged
• Alopecia (epidemiology, pathology)
• Alopecia Areata (epidemiology, pathology)
• Biopsy, Needle
• Cohort Studies
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Incidence
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mucinosis, Follicular (epidemiology, pathology)
• Mycosis Fungoides (epidemiology, immunology, pathology)
• Neoplasm Staging
• Reference Values
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Assessment
• Severity of Illness Index
• Sex Distribution
• Sezary Syndrome (epidemiology, immunology, pathology)
• Skin Neoplasms (epidemiology, immunology, pathology)
• Young Adult