Dermoscopy and confocal microscopy for different chemotherapy‐induced alopecia (CIA) phases characterization: Preliminary study. Issue 2 (26th September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Franceschini, Chiara; Garelli, Valentina; Persechino, Flavia; Sperduti, Isabella; Caro, Gemma; Rossi, Alfredo; Ardigò, Marco
• Is Part Of: Skin research and technology. Volume 26:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 269
• Page End: 276
• Publication Date: 2019-09-26
• Subjects: black dot -- chemotherapy‐induced alopecia -- CIA dot -- confocal microscopy -- thricoscopy -- yellow dot; Skin -- Research -- Periodicals; Skin -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Skin -- Physiology -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/srt.12790
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0909-752X

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Chemotherapy‐induced alopecia (CIA) affects 65% of patients receiving chemotherapy regimens and is often identified with the massive hair loss stage. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a noninvasive technique used in alopecia assessment for disease characterization and state of activity. Objective: To describe RCM features of CIA in different timing and identify specific phases of alopecia development. Methods: A total of 16 patients treated with chemotherapy underwent dermoscopy and RCM evaluations four times during the observation: 2 and 4‐6 weeks after starting and 3 and 6 months after the end of chemotherapy. Ten examinations for each stage were performed. Results: Four phases of CIA have been identified. Initial hair loss showed specific dots not previously described, named CIA dots. massive hair loss phase was characterized by black dots (10/10 pt), CIA dots (8/10 pt) and hair shaft abnormalities. Three months after the end of chemotherapy, during the partial regrowth phase, 10/10 patients showed thin hair in regrowth and 8/10 presented black and yellow dots. At 6 months, normal hair in regrowth appears in all patients (total regrowth phase). Conclusions: Chemotherapy‐induced alopecia has to be considered as a dynamic process with specific phases characterized by distinctive dermoscopic and confocal features.