The role of scalp dermoscopy in the diagnosis of alopecia areata incognita.
BACKGROUND
Alopecia areata incognita is a variety of alopecia areata characterized by acute diffuse shedding of telogen hairs without typical patches.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to report the clinical, pathological, and dermoscopic features of alopecia areata incognita.


METHODS
Seventy patients with alopecia areata incognita were evaluated clinically and with videodermoscopy during the period of 2002 to 2006. Pathology was performed in 50 patients.


RESULTS
The presence of numerous, diffuse, round or polycyclic yellow dots, different in size and uniform in color and distribution, was a typical dermoscopic feature in all patients. Short regrowing hairs were also present. The dermoscopic findings were correlated and supported by the histologic features of the scalp specimens.


CONCLUSIONS
Scalp biopsy was performed only in 50 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Videodermoscopy is a first step before performing a biopsy. It can help the clinician to find the right place to take the sample, but can also avoid unnecessary biopsies.
Tosti
Antonella
A
Department of Dermatology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. antonella.tosti@unibo.it
Whiting
David
D
Iorizzo
Matilde
M
Pazzaglia
Massimiliano
M
Misciali
Cosimo
C
Vincenzi
Colombina
C
Micali
Giuseppe
G
D000328:Adult; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D046169:Dermoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012535:Scalp / Q000473:pathology