title: Hair morphology in androgenetic alopecia: sonographic and electron microscopic studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess hair morphology in androgenetic alopecia on sonography and electron microscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was performed in 33 patients with androgenetic alopecia and 10 unaffected control participants. In vivo sonography of the hair follicles of the scalp and in vitro sonography and electron microscopy of the hair shafts were performed according to a standardized protocol that included analysis of the right frontal and occipital regions. The upper frequency limit of the ultrasound probes ranged between 15 and 18 MHz.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scalp hair follicles and hair shafts were recognizable on sonography in all cases. Hair follicles in alopecia cases had significantly lower depths (P < .05). The hair shafts in alopecia also had a different distribution of their laminar pattern on in vitro sonography, with a greater presence of mixed (trilaminar and bilaminar) and solely bilaminar tracts in comparison with the controls (mostly trilaminar). On electron microscopy, the alopecia hair tracts showed irregularities and commonly a "melted candle" appearance of the cuticle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sonography and electron microscopy uncover distinct abnormalities in the morphology of hair in androgenetic alopecia, which may potentially support the diagnosis and management of this common condition.
authors: Departments of Radiology and Dermatology, Institute for Diagnostic Imaging and Research of the Skin and Soft Tissues, Clinica Servet, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile (X.W.); Department of Dermatology, Alopecia Clinic, Fundacion Medica San Cristobal, Santiago, Chile (R.G.); and Department of Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois USA (J.W.). xworts@yahoo.com.
authors: Ximena
authors: X
authors: Wortsman
authors: Departments of Radiology and Dermatology, Institute for Diagnostic Imaging and Research of the Skin and Soft Tissues, Clinica Servet, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile (X.W.); Department of Dermatology, Alopecia Clinic, Fundacion Medica San Cristobal, Santiago, Chile (R.G.); and Department of Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois USA (J.W.).
authors: Robinson
authors: R
authors: Guerrero
authors: Departments of Radiology and Dermatology, Institute for Diagnostic Imaging and Research of the Skin and Soft Tissues, Clinica Servet, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile (X.W.); Department of Dermatology, Alopecia Clinic, Fundacion Medica San Cristobal, Santiago, Chile (R.G.); and Department of Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, Illinois USA (J.W.).
authors: Jacobo
authors: J
authors: Wortsman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006197:Hair / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: androgenetic alopecia; androgenetic alopecia sonography; androgenetic alopecia ultrasound; androgenic alopecia; hair sonography; hair ultrasound; scalp sonography; scalp ultrasound; superficial structures