ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Postmenopausal frontal fibrosing alopecia is a scarring alopecia that has been recently described by Kossard in 1994 and rarely reported in the literature. OBSERVATIONS: We have conducted a retrospective clinical and histological study of a series of 20 cases of postmenopausal frontal fibrosing alopecia. The results, in agreement with those in the literature, revealed the stereotyped nature of this entity. DISCUSSION: All the clinical and histological data suggest that postmenopausal frontal fibrosing alopecia is a clinical form of lichen planopilaris occurring in elderly women. As with lichen planopilaris its physiopathology is unknown. However, in analogy with other lichen-like dermatoses, a lymphocyte T-mediated autoimmune reaction appears to play a predominant part in its genesis.
Subject(s)
Alopecia/epidemiology , Postmenopause , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Alopecia/diagnosis , Alopecia/immunology , Autoimmunity , Female , Humans , Lichen Planus/diagnosis , Lichen Planus/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Sex Factors , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Time FactorsABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous Bowen's disease is an intra-epidermal squamous cell carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Ten cases of cutaneous Bowen's disease diagnosed among 8 patients were treated by scanned high energy carbon dioxide laser between November 1996, and March 1998. A biopsy was performed in all patients before treatment. RESULTS: The post-treatment follow-up extended from 1 to 4 years with an average follow-up of 2 years and 11 months. Only one patient, whose lesion was located on the auricle, presented a recurrence after one year. The remaining patients did not present any recurrence during their last control: six patients were followed for two years or more and one patient for one year. We demonstrate a histological and clinical correlation between the number of carbon dioxide laser passes before a clinical endpoint and the thickness of the epidermal carcinoma treated. DISCUSSION: This new treatment has comparable efficacy to other treatments. It can be applied to extensive lesions without sequelae except for the risk of residual hypopigmentation.