Clinico-pathological concordance rate of scalp lesions showing alopecia

Background: Some alopecic diseases can be diagnosed by detailed history taking and physical examination, but in many cases, biopsy must be performed to make a definite diagnosis. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinico-pathological concordance of scalp lesions showing alopecia....

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Soo Hyun Jeong, Dong Yeol Oh, Kwang Joong Kim, Kwang Ho Kim, Eun Joo Park
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2022-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Dermatology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.e-ijd.org/article.asp?issn=0019-5154;year=2022;volume=67;issue=4;spage=324;epage=327;aulast=Jeong
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Summary:Background: Some alopecic diseases can be diagnosed by detailed history taking and physical examination, but in many cases, biopsy must be performed to make a definite diagnosis. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinico-pathological concordance of scalp lesions showing alopecia. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records and biopsy slides of patients who underwent biopsy for evaluating scalp lesions showing alopecia. Based on the definitions of clinico-pathological concordances, scalp alopecic disease was evaluated. Results: A total of 121 patients were enrolled in the study. A total of 203 clinical differential diagnoses were made before performing a biopsy. Thirty-one patients showed full concordance, and 58 patients showed partial concordance; thus overall concordance was shown in 89 patients (73.55%). Folliculitis decalvans and alopecia areata showed a higher full concordance rate than average (P < 0.05), whereas dissecting folliculitis showed a lower overall concordance rate than average, and folliculitis decalvans showed a higher overall concordance rate than average (P < 0.05). The overall concordance rate of alopecia areata was 100% (P = 0.061). Conclusion: In diagnosing folliculitis decalvans and alopecia areata, which showed high full and overall concordance, performing a biopsy to make a definite diagnosis is not always necessary, especially when patients show typical clinical features. Dissecting folliculitis, which showed low overall concordance, was less likely to be suspected as a clinical differential diagnosis, making it difficult to distinguish based on clinical findings alone. Therefore, when it is suspected, a detailed evaluation including a biopsy is recommended.
ISSN:0019-5154
1998-3611