[Clinicopathological study of scarring alopecia: a retrospective study of 207 patients]

ABSTRACT

Cicatricial alopecia means permanent destruction of hair follicles that leads to scar formation. This alopecia is irreversible. According to our knowledge, there has been no previous study about the causes of scarring alopecia in Iran. Our objective was the study of this entity in Iran. In a retrospective study, skin biopsies of the patients with clinical diagnosis of scarring alopecia since April 1998 to March 2001 in the file of department of pathology of Razi Hospital were evaluated. Among 9000 of skin biopsies, 207 had the diagnosis of scarring alopecia. These specimens underwent reevaluation. Data on demographic and clinical features were obtained from patients' files. The mean age of patients was 35.2. According to sex distribution, 49.3 percent were women and 50.7 percent were men respectively. The causes of scarring alopecia in order of decreasing frequency were as follow Discoid lupus erythematous, lichen planopilaris, folliculitis decalvans, basal cell carcinoma, deep folliculitis, morphea, cicatricial pemphigoid, follicular mucinosis, aplasia cutis congenita, dissecting folliculitis, granuloma, epidermal nevi, necrobiosis, and psoriasis. In eight cases no specific pathologic diagnosis was reported for scarring alopecia. Discoid lupus erythematous was the most frequent cause of scarring alopecia in this study. Lichen planopilaris and folliculitis decalvans were the next frequent conditions respectively