Alopecia Neoplastica: A Manifestation of Metastatic Breast Cancer
October 2023
in “
Skin Health and Disease
”
TLDR Alopecia neoplastica is hair loss from breast cancer spreading to the scalp.
The article discusses a case of alopecia neoplastica in a 75-year-old woman, which is a rare form of hair loss caused by the metastasis of breast cancer to the scalp. The patient had a history of invasive ductal carcinoma treated with mastectomy and anastrozole. Despite treatment, the alopecia remained unchanged over a 5-year follow-up. The study highlights the importance of thorough dermatological examinations for patients with a history of breast cancer, as alopecia neoplastica can be misdiagnosed as alopecia areata. The histopathological analysis confirmed the presence of tumor cells in the scalp, emphasizing the need for awareness of this condition in similar clinical scenarios.
