Clinical evaluation of alopecias using a handheld dermatoscope - 13/07/12
Abstract |
Background |
There are numerous reports of the value of videodermatoscopy in the clinical evaluation of alopecia. Studies performed with a handheld dermatoscope are scarce and limited to a few disease entities.
Objective |
The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential benefit of a handheld dermatoscope in the clinical diagnosis of alopecia.
Methods |
In all, 144 patients with alopecia and 144 age- and sex-matched control subjects were enrolled in the study. Diagnoses were established clinically, and confirmed by scalp biopsy in doubtful cases. Dermatoscopic examination was performed by a polarized-light handheld dermatoscope with a 10-fold magnification. The images were obtained by a digital camera with a 3-fold optical zoom.
Results |
The dermatoscopic patterns of circular hairs, dirty dots, epidermal scale, and pustules showed no statistically significant difference between patients and control subjects. The following features were significantly more common, or observed solely, in particular types of alopecia: hair diameter diversity, peripilar sign, and empty follicles in androgenetic alopecia; yellow dots, black dots, tapering hairs, and broken hairs in alopecia areata; absence of follicular openings, tufted hairs, white dots, follicular hyperkeratosis, pili torti, red dots, honeycomb pigment pattern, pink-white appearance, crusts, and pustules in primary cicatricial alopecias.
Limitations |
Evaluation of all primary cicatricial alopecias in the same cluster.
Conclusions |
We suggest that a polarized-light handheld dermatoscope attached to a digital camera provides a practical and useful aid for the clinical diagnosis of alopecias.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key words : alopecia, dermatoscopy, hair, handheld dermatoscope, scalp, videodermatoscopy
Abbreviations used : AA, AGA, CTE, FD, LPP, PCA, TE
Plan
Funding sources: None. |
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Conflicts of interest: None declared. |
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Reprints not available from the authors. |
Vol 67 - N° 2
P. 206-214 - août 2012 Retour au numéroBienvenue sur EM-consulte, la référence des professionnels de santé.
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