Clinical and histologic findings in temporal triangular alopecia.
BACKGROUND
Temporal triangular alopecia (TTA; also called "congenital triangular alopecia") is a common disorder that is assumed to be congenital. Little is known about its histologic features.


OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to describe four new cases, review the literature, and present histologic features based on vertical and transverse sectioning.


METHODS
The history, clinical features, and histologic findings of four patients with TTA are described and the relevant literature reviewed.


RESULTS
Lesions of TTA are seldom congenital, and most are best described as lancet-shaped. The "bald spot" contains normal numbers of hairs, although virtually all are vellus or indeterminate follicles.


CONCLUSIONS
Most cases of TTA appear to develop during the first few years of life, and the designation "congenital" is a misnomer. The appearance of alopecia can be best explained as a focal zone of hair miniaturization leading to vellus hair formation.
Dermatology Service, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307.
C
C
Trakimas
L C
LC
Sperling
H G
HG
Skelton
K J
KJ
Smith
J L
JL
Buker
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000151:congenital* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000175:diagnosis; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012535:Scalp / Q000473:pathology*