title: The role of scalp dermoscopy in the diagnosis of alopecia areata incognita.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. antonella.tosti@unibo.it
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tosti
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Whiting
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iorizzo
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pazzaglia
authors.forename: Cosimo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Misciali
authors.forename: Colombina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vincenzi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Micali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D046169:Dermoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012535:Scalp / Q000473:pathology