Frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planus pigmentosus: diagnosis and therapeutic challenge

Abstract Frontal fibrosing alopecia is a variant of lichen planopilaris with marginal progressive hair loss on the scalp, eyebrows and axillae. We report a case of frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planus pigmentosus in a postmenopausal woman, that started with alopecia on the eyebrows and then on the frontoparietal region, with periocular and cervical hyperpigmentation of difficult management. The condition was controlled with systemic corticosteroid therapy and finasteride. Lichen planus pigmentosus is an uncommon variant of lichen planus frequently associated with frontal fibrosing alopecia in darker phototipes. It should be considered in patients affected by scarring alopecia with a pattern of lichen planopilaris and areas of skin hyperpigmentation revealing perifollicular hyperpigmentation refractory to multiple treatments. This case illustrates diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in face of scarring alopecia and perifollicular hyperpigmentation.

Frontal fibrosing alopecia and extrafacial lichen planus pigmentosum in a caucasian woman

Abstract We present the case of a 72-year-old Caucasian woman with frontal fibrosing alopecia of one year's duration. Eighteen months later, she presented with sudden hyperpigmentation on the submental area, neck and upper chest. Histopathological examination was consistent with lichen planus pigmentosus. This is the report of a unique case of a FFA and extrafacial lichen planus pigmentosus.

Frontal cutaneous meningioma - Case report

Cutaneous meningiomas are rare tumors most commonly located on the scalp. We report the case of a 55-year-old male who presented with a 2x3 cm tumoral lesion on the forehead. The lesion was hard, adherent and covered by normal skin. Incisional biopsy revelead a proliferation of monomorphic round cells, organized in nests and focally forming pseudovascular spaces. Immunohistochemical study revealed positivity for epithelial antigen membrane and vimentin. Vascular markers, cytokeratins and S100 protein were negative. A brain CT scan did not show any evidence of intracranial meningioma. The authors describe the case of a cutaneous frontal meningioma in probable relation with previous cranioencephalic trauma.

Trasplante capilar en una paciente con alopecia fibrosante frontal asociada con liquen escleroatrófico de vulva / Hair transplantation in a patient with frontal fibrosing alopecia associated with lichen scleroatrophicus vulvae

La alopecia fibrosante frontal (AFF) puede representar una variedad del liquen plano pilaris. Se presenta una paciente con AFF asociada con liquen escleroatrófico de vulva que fue tratada con finasteride (1 mg/día) y aplicaciones tópicas de minoxidil a 2% dos veces al día. Se le efectuaron microtrasplantes de pelo en la zona alopécica frontal y frontoparietal, con resultado excelente que se mantiene 6 años después. Los microtrasplantes capilares pueden ser considerados una alternativa terapéutica no convencional.

Alopecia frontal fibrosante: relato de caso / Frontal fibrosing alopecia: case report

A alopécia frontal fibrosante é uma forma de alopécia cicatricial progressiva e, frequentemente, irreversível, marcada por um infiltrado liquenóide na histologia. Desde sua primeira descrição, em 1994, na Austrália, alguns casos têm sido documentados em todo o mundo. O artigo relata, pela segunda vez na literatura, um caso brasileiro e revisa os principais aspectos desta dermatose.

Frontal fibrosing alopecia is a kind of progressive and frequently irreversible cicatricial alopecia marked by a lichenoid infiltrate in histology. Since its first description, in 1994, in Australia, some cases have been documented all over the world. The article reports, for the second time in the medical literature, a Brazilian case and reviews the main aspects of this dermatosis.

Non-invasive 3D facial analysis and surface electromyography during functional pre-orthodontic therapy: a preliminary report

OBJECTIVES: Functional orthodontic devices can modify oral function thus permitting more adequate growth processes. The assessment of their effects should include both facial morphology and muscle function. This preliminary study investigated whether a preformed functional orthodontic device could induce variations in facial morphology and function along with correction of oral dysfunction in a group of orthodontic patients in the mixed and early permanent dentitions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The three-dimensional coordinates of 50 facial landmarks (forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks, mouth, jaw and ears) were collected in 10 orthodontic male patients aged 8-13 years, and in 89 healthy reference boys of the same age. Soft tissue facial angles, distances, and ratios were computed. Surface electromyography of the masseter and temporalis muscles was performed, and standardized symmetry, muscular torque and activity were calculated. Soft-tissue facial modifications were analyzed non-invasively before and after a 6-month treatment with a functional device. Comparisons were made with z-scores and paired Student's t-tests. RESULTS: The 6-month treatment stimulated mandibular growth in the anterior and inferior directions, with significant variations in three-dimensional facial divergence and facial convexity. The modifications were larger in the patients than in reference children. In several occasions, the discrepancies relative to the norm became not significant after treatment. No significant variations in standardized muscular activity were found. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results showed that the continuous and correct use of the functional device induced measurable intraoral (dental arches) and extraoral (face) morphological modifications. The device did not modify the functional equilibrium of the masticatory muscles.

Keratoacanthoma: An unusual presentation

Keratoacanthoma is an epithelial neoplasm occurring on the sun exposed skin of elderly persons. It usually presents as solitary flesh colored nodule with central keratin plug and is characterized by rapid growth followed by spontaneous regression in weeks to months. We present a 45 year old male with keratoacanthoma on forehead present for a long time with recent rapid increase in growth following trauma

Follicular thyroid carcinoma with metastasis to skin diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology.

In April 2006, a 55-year-old female presented with a thyroid mass and multiple skin nodules on scalp, forehead and neck. Fine needle aspiration cytology of thyroid mass and multiple skin nodules show tumor cells clusters in a repetitive microfollicular pattern on May-Grunwald-Giemsa stain suggestive of follicular thyroid carcinoma with metastasis to skin. Although follicular carcinoma have a propensity for vascular invasion and hematogenous dissemination, skin is not commonly involved. Only a few cases of cutaneous metastasis from follicular thyroid carcinoma are reported in the English language literature.

Forehead plaque: a cutaneous marker of CNS involvement in tuberous sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a neurocutaneous genodermatosis characterized by hamartoma formation in multiple organs. There are no definite cutaneous markers suggestive of central nervous system (CNS) involvement in TSC. Aims: To study association of forehead plaque seen in tuberous sclerosis patients and CNS involvement in TSC. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 15 cases of tuberous sclerosis in varying age groups - from 1.5 to 50 years. All the cases were thoroughly evaluated with detailed history; clinical examination; and relevant investigations like X-rays of chest, skull, hands and feet; ultrasound abdomen and computed tomography of brain. RESULTS: Out of the 15 cases, CNS involvement was seen in 8 cases. Seizures were present in 8 cases (53.33%) and mental retardation was seen in 6 cases (40%). Computerized tomography of brain revealed subependymal nodules (SENs) in eight cases (53.33%). In addition to SENs, subependymal giant cell astrocytomas and cortical tubers were seen in 2 cases each. Out of these 8 cases having CNS involvement, in 7 cases forehead plaque was observed. In 1 case, no forehead plaque was observed (X 2 = 1.07, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study shows that there is a statistically significant relationship between the presence of a forehead plaque and CNS involvement in TSC. Therefore, forehead plaque may be considered as a novel cutaneous marker to know the CNS involvement in TSC at an early stage.

A Study of Skin Color by Melanin Index According to Site, Gestational Age, Birth Weight and Season of Birth in Korean Neonates

Human skin color shows variations throughout life and influenced by various factors such as race, sex, age and hormones. Since the development of spectrophotometer, many studies on human skin color have been done. However, few studies have been carried out to measure the skin color of neonatal infants. The aim of our study was to assess the variations in skin color according to site, gestational age, birth weight and season of birth in Korean neonates. A total of 447 healthy neonates (3 days after birth, 213 males and 234 females) were enrolled in the present study. Skin pigmentation was measured by reflectance spectrophotometer (Derma-Spectrophotometer(R), Cortex technology, Hadsund, Denmark) at four different sites (forehead, upper arm, abdomen, and inguinal area). The forehead showed highest melanin index in all sites measured (p<0.05). There was no significant difference according to gestational age, birth weight, and season of birth. This result imply that the skin color in neonates is mainly determined genetically.

Proteus syndrome - a rare clinical entity

A case of Proteus syndrome is reported which was seen in a 21 years old male. Good cosmetic result was obtained following surgery. Early recognition and prompt decision about surgery can prevent torment to the patient

Sinus pericranii / Sinus pericanii

Se presenta un caso de paciente femenino con deformación y edema de tejidos blandos extracraneales de frente y nariz, que fue estudiada mediante TC y RM de cráneo, Angiorresonancia y Angiografía digital. Los hallazgos más relevantes revelan un sinus pericranii medial con drenaje predominante a las venas faciales. Se analizan los aspectos más salientes de esta rara entidad

Lipoma subaponeurotico de la frente / Subaponeurotic lipoma of the forehead

Los lipomas de localizacion profunda de la frente pueden ubicarse entre las dos hojas de la aponeurosis superficial o galea (relacionados con el musculo frontal) o entre la lamina profunda de la galea y el periostio(espacio subgaleal). Es necesario conocerlo porque para extirparlo hay que incidir la aponeurosis. Clinicamente se lo puede confundir sobre todo con quistes epidermicos. Se presentan 7 casos tipicos: uno en una mujer de 28 años y seis en hombres entre 31 y 58 años. Todos estaban alojados en el, espacio subgaleal. Ellos representaron el 13,7 por ciento de los lipomas extirpados en nuestros servicios en los ultimosaños. Por lo tanto no es infrecuente. Otros dos casos tambien localizados en la frente, eran hipodermicos y dos mas ubicados en el brazo y el dorso,tambien eran subaponeuroticos.