Alopecia Neoplastica due to Gastric Adenocarcinoma Metastasis to the Scalp, Presenting as Alopecia: A Case Report and Literature Review

Alopecia neoplastica is defined as hair loss secondary to a visceral malignancy that has metastasized to the scalp. The scalp is a relatively common site of cutaneous metastasis, usually presenting as a single or multiple firm scalp nodules. Alopecia neoplastica is a well-recognized but rare presentation, and its pathogenesis is incompletely understood. Atrophy of the hair follicles due to tumor invasion of the scalp plays a role in the development of alopecia. Herein, we describe a 33-year-old woman with gastric adenocarcinoma who developed alopecia neoplastica while receiving cancer chemotherapy. Scalp biopsy revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma cells interspersed between collagen bundles and around hair follicles. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that the tumor cells originated from the primary gastric adenocarcinoma. Therefore, she was diagnosed with alopecia neoplastica due to gastric adenocarcinoma. The findings from this report may be helpful for understanding the mechanism of alopecia neoplastica.

A Case of Alopecia Neoplastica Metastasis from Breast Carcinoma / 대한피부과학회지

Breast cancer is a common cancer in women and the most common primary tumor metastatic to the skin. Cutaneous metastasis from breast cancer occurs predominently through lymphatic dissemination. Alopecia neoplastica is rare and probably caused by the hematogenous spread of the internal carcinoma. It has diagnostic importance because it may be the first sign of an undiscovered internal malignancy. We report a case of a 40-year-old female who showed alopecia neoplastia secondary to an invasive intraductal carcinoma of the breast.

Alopecia Neoplastica due to Breast Cancer

We report a case of alopecia neoplastica-a rare form of cutaneous metastasis-in a 43-year-old Korean woman, who presented with multiple red, bald patches of 1 month's duration on her scalp. About 2 years previously, she received a modified left radical mastectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Histopathological findings of the bald lesions revealed diffuse infiltration of hyperchmmatic tumor cells arranged singly and in strands and cords in the upper and lower dermis. We started chemotherapy with adriamycin, but she died 13 months later.