title: Transversely sectioned biopsies in the diagnosis of end-stage traction alopecia.
abstract: The pathogenesis of scarring alopecia in African American women remains poorly understood. Furthermore, the overlapping clinical and histological features present diagnostic challenges. The diagnosis of end stage traction alopecia secondary to traumatic hair styling practices can sometimes present particular challenges. We present a young African American woman with a scarring alopecia. As we describe, a scalp biopsy processed by transverse sections enabled rapid diagnosis and presented advantages over a biopsy processed with vertical sections.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, University of Toronto; Hair Club Medical Group; Cleveland Clinic, Canada.
authors.forename: Jeff C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.forename: Paradi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mirmirani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000505:Alopecia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D001505:Beauty Culture; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair; D006203:Hair Preparations; D006801:Humans; D008867:Microtomy / Q000379:methods*; D012535:Scalp / Q000473:pathology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D006203:Hair Preparations