A case of alopecia neoplastica from breast cancer

Abstract

We report a case of alopecia neoplastica in a 54-year-old woman, who presented with a 2 month history of a solitary 2 x 2 cm sized, erythematous hairless plaque on the vertex. Histological findings showed an extensive infiltration of tumor cells in the dermis, resulting in loss of the pilosebaceous structure. Tumor cells infiltrated in sheets or cords of cells, sometimes demonstrating glandular structures, and tumor cells formed small groups or single rows between thickened collagen bundles; the characteristic features of alopecia neoplastica.