Leonard C. Sperling

Hair anatomy for the clinician

The rational evaluation of hair disorders requires familiarity with follicular anatomy. Hair structure can be easily examined by studying clipped hair shafts, entire hairs gently pulled or forcibly plucked from the scalp, and scalp biopsies (sectioned vertically or transversely). Anatomic features will be different depending on whether a given hair is in the anagen, catagen, or telogen phase. Follicle size will also vary, from the minute vellus hair to the long, thick terminal hair. Each follicle can be divided into distinct regions--bulb, suprabulbar zone, isthmus, and infundibulum. Activity growing (anagen) hairs are characterized by a hair matrix surrounding a dermal papilla; inner and outer root sheaths are present and well developed. A catagen hair can be identified by its markedly thickened vitreous layer and fibrous root sheath, which surrounds an epithelial column; above this column, the presumptive club forms. A telogen hair is distinguished by its fully keratinized club, which is surrounded by an epithelial sac. Below this lies the secondary hair germ and condensed dermal papilla, waiting for the mysterious signal that initiates a new life cycle.

Scarring alopecia and the dermatopathologist

Background: The evaluation of patients with cicatricial alopecia is particularly challenging, and dermatopathologists receive little training in the interpretation of scalp biopsy specimens. Accurate interpretation of specimens from patients with hair disease requires both qualitative (morphology of follicles, inflammation, fibrosis, etc.) and quantitative (size, number, follicular phase) information. Much of this data can only be obtained from transverse sections. In most cases, good clinical/pathologic correlation is required, and so clinicians should be expected to provide demographic information as well as a brief description of the pattern of hair loss and a clinical differential diagnosis.

Viral-associated trichodysplasia in a patient with lymphoma: A case report and review

Viral‐associated trichodysplasia is a recently described entity associated with immunosuppression. We describe a 68‐year‐old man with a history of treated lymphoma who developed numerous, disfiguring, papular and spiny lesions involving most of the central face. Both facial and body alopecia was noted. Histopathologic findings of a facial papule showed dramatic alterations of the hair bulbs, including bulbar distention, lack of hair shaft formation and a marked expansion of inner root sheath type epithelium. These findings were identical to those of previously described cases, so electron microscopy was performed. Numerous intranuclear virus particles were identified. Shortly after the diagnosis of trichodysplasia was made, the patient was found to have a relapse of his lymphoma, which may represent the source of his immunosuppression. Based on his skin biopsy findings, successful antiviral therapy was initiated. This case and a review of previously reported cases are discussed in this study.

Androgen biology as a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of androgenic disorders in women. I

In the May 1993 issue of the Journal we reviewed the basic science of androgen biology in women. We now discuss the evaluation of suspected hyperandrogenism and the therapeutic modalities available.

Transverse scalp sections: A proposed method for laboratory processing

BACKGROUND Transverse sections of human scalp biopsy specimens can provide both qualitative and quantitative information about follicular histopathology not readily available in vertically sectioned specimens. OBJECTIVE We propose a method for making the processing and interpretation of such specimens easier. METHODS All scalp biopsy specimens obtained during the past 18 months in our institution for the evaluation of alopecia were processed for transverse sections by means of a technique employing trisection or quadrisection (rather than the standard bisection), and maintaining all sections in the same anatomic orientation (deep to superficial) in all tissue pieces on microscopic slides. RESULTS More than 120 transversely sectioned specimens from more than 75 patients have been processed with this technique. The typical number of slides cut per specimen decreased from between 12 and 20 to between 1 and 4, with no loss of clinical information. CONCLUSION This technique allows transverse sections for evaluation of alopecia to be processed in a more cost-effective manner and compares favorably with previously published techniques in providing diagnostic information.

Essential syphilitic alopecia revisited

There has been a resurgence of syphilis in the past decade. Uncommonly, diffuse hair loss, termed essential alopecia, is the only sign of syphilitic infection. We describe two patients with syphilis in whom the first sign of disease was alopecia and discuss the clinical and histopathologic findings of essential syphilitic alopecia.

HAIR AND SYSTEMATIC DISEASE

Hair loss (alopecia) occurs as a manifestation of numerous systemic diseases, but usually can be categorized into one of five general groups: telogen effluvium, anagen arrest, follicular destruction, hair miniaturization, and hair shaft defects. An excess of hair also can be evidence of internal disease, and there are two general categories of increased hair density: hypertrichosis and hirsutism. The basic categories of hair disease and the systemic conditions associated with them are discussed. The history, physical examination, and histopathologic data usually are sufficient to categorize the form of hair disorder and may provide a clue to the nature of the underlying systemic disease.

LOOSE ANAGEN HAIR SYNDROME

This recently described entity begins in childhood and is characterized by actively growing hairs that can be easily and painlessly removed from the scalp, leading to alopecia.

Inflammatory tinea capitis (kerion) mimicking dissecting cellulitis. Occurrence in two adolescents.

Abstract: Tinea capitis is unusual in postpubertal individuals and is frequently misdiagnosed. In cases of inflammatory disease, prompt initiation of therapy is essential to prevent scarring and permanent hair loss. Two examples are presented to illustrate principles of evaluation and treatment.: Tinea capitis is unusual in postpubertal individuals and is frequently misdiagnosed. In cases of inflammatory disease, prompt initiation of therapy is essential to prevent scarring and permanent hair loss. Two examples are presented to illustrate principles of evaluation and treatment.

The Effect of Decreasing Digital Image Resolution on Teledermatology Diagnosis

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of degraded digital image resolution (as viewed on a monitor) on the accuracy and confidence of dermatologic interpretation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eight dermatologists interpreted 180 clinical cases divided into three Logical Competitor Sets (LCS) (pigmented lesions, non-pigmented lesions, and inflammatory dermatoses). Each case was digitized at three different resolutions. The images were randomized and divided into (9) 60-image sessions. The physicians were completely blinded concerning the image resolution. After 60 seconds per image, the viewer recorded a diagnosis and level of confidence. The resultant ROC curves compared the effect of LCS, level of clinical difficulty, and resolution of the digital image. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) compared the curves. RESULTS The areas beneath the ROC curves did not demonstrate any consistently significant difference between the digital image resolutions for all LCS and levels of difficulty. The only significant effect observed was amongst pigmented lesions (LCS-A) where the ROC curve area was significantly smaller in the easy images at high resolution compared to low and medium resolutions. For all other ROC curve comparisons within LCS-A, at all other levels of difficulty, as well as within the other LCS at all levels of difficulty, none of the differences was significant. CONCLUSION A 720 x 500 pixel image can be considered equivalent to a 1490 x 1000 pixel image for most store-and-forward teledermatology consultations.