[Radiation-induced temporary hair loss after endovascular embolization of the cerebral arteries: six cases].
BACKGROUND
Intraoperative fluoroscopy imaging during coronaroplasty or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt may induce chronic radiodermatitis. Temporary hair loss is a peculiar form of radiodermatitis following endovascular surgery of the cerebral arteries.


METHODS
Six patients (2 women, 4 men, age range: 27-47 years old) were seen for a solitary plaque of alopecia. In all of the cases, the plaque had appeared two weeks after a neuroradiologically guided embolization procedure. No other skin lesions were seen. Alopecia spontaneously and completely regressed within three to four months. However, it reappeared after a subsequent embolization (one case) but not after arteriographies (five cases).


CONCLUSIONS
Five similar cases have been reported in the literature. Transient alopecia often occurs after neurologically guided endovascular surgery of the cerebral arteries. This side-effect is well known by neurosurgeons and thus, these patients are rarely referred to a dermatologist. Two differential diagnoses must be evoqued: alopecia aerata and anticonvulsant - induced alopecia. The role played as cofactor by carbamazepine which is a photosensitivant drug, is discussed.
Service de Dermatologie, Hôtel-Dieu/Polyclinique, Clermont-Ferrand, France. mdincan@chu-clermontferrand.fr
M
M
D'incan
H
H
Roger
J
J
Gabrillargues
S
S
Mansard
S
S
Parent
J
J
Chazal
B
B
Irthum
P
P
Souteyrand
D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000209:etiology*; D002536:Cerebral Arteries; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011855:Radiodermatitis / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors