title: Diffuse neurofibroma--an uncommon cause of alopecia.
abstract: Although infrequent, alopecia can be caused by benign cutaneous tumours. Neurofibromas are common benign tumors that originate in the peripheral nerve sheath. Diffuse neurofibroma is a rare variant of neurofibroma that is thought to occur mainly in the head and neck of children and young adults. Histology generally shows an infiltrative tumor, composed of spindle cells in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Despite being rare, malignant transformation has been reported. The association between diffuse neurofibromas and neurofibromatosis type 1 still remains to be determined since some authors question the low incidence usually described. We report the case of a 42-year-old man who had a diffuse neurofibroma on the scalp presenting as alopecic plaques.
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Curry Cabral, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Vasco Coelho
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Macias
authors.affiliation: Instituto Português de Oncologia Francisco Gentil, Department of Dermatology, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Margarida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rafael
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Curry Cabral, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cândida
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Instituto Português de Oncologia Francisco Gentil, Department of Pathological Anatomy, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joaninha Costa
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rosa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009455:Neurofibroma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D012535:Scalp / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology