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Reflectance confocal microscopy of the yellow dot pattern in alopecia areata.
Arch Dermatol. 2011 Jan; 147(1):61-4.AD

Abstract

BACKGROUND

The presence of yellow dots is a characteristic dermoscopic finding in alopecia areata. The aim of this study was to investigate the yellow dot pattern observed at dermoscopy in alopecia areata with reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and correlate RCM findings with pathological features.

OBSERVATIONS

Six patients affected by alopecia totalis entered the study. Patients were first submitted to scalp dermoscopy, which was followed by RCM examination of the same area. After RCM, a 5-mm punch biopsy specimen was also taken. Dermoscopic findings showed the yellow dot pattern in all patients, with round or polycyclic yellow-pink dots often containing miniaturized or broken hair shafts. At RCM, a Vivablock mosaic taken at the level of the spinous layer showed striking reduction of follicular adnexal structures and empty lumina containing highly refractile material corresponding to the yellow dots seen on dermoscopy. The pathological features showed that the yellow dots correspond to the dilated infundibula of the velluslike anagen and telogen follicles that characterize the chronic phase of alopecia areata.

CONCLUSION

The RCM study of the yellow dot pattern showed a good correlation with the dermoscopic and pathological findings and confirms that the yellow dots correspond to inefficient follicular structures that often contain hair remnants.

Links

Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Ardigò M
San Gallicano Dermatologic Institute, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Tosti A
No affiliation info available
Cameli N
No affiliation info available
Vincenzi C
No affiliation info available
Misciali C
No affiliation info available
Berardesca E
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdolescentAdultAlopecia AreataBiopsyDermoscopyFemaleHair FollicleHumansMaleMicroscopy, ConfocalMiddle AgedScalpYoung Adult

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

21242396

Citation

Ardigò, Marco, et al. "Reflectance Confocal Microscopy of the Yellow Dot Pattern in Alopecia Areata." Archives of Dermatology, vol. 147, no. 1, 2011, pp. 61-4.
Ardigò M, Tosti A, Cameli N, et al. Reflectance confocal microscopy of the yellow dot pattern in alopecia areata. Arch Dermatol. 2011;147(1):61-4.
Ardigò, M., Tosti, A., Cameli, N., Vincenzi, C., Misciali, C., & Berardesca, E. (2011). Reflectance confocal microscopy of the yellow dot pattern in alopecia areata. Archives of Dermatology, 147(1), 61-4. https://doi.org/10.1001/archdermatol.2010.288
Ardigò M, et al. Reflectance Confocal Microscopy of the Yellow Dot Pattern in Alopecia Areata. Arch Dermatol. 2011;147(1):61-4. PubMed PMID: 21242396.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Reflectance confocal microscopy of the yellow dot pattern in alopecia areata. AU - Ardigò,Marco, AU - Tosti,Antonella, AU - Cameli,Norma, AU - Vincenzi,Colombina, AU - Misciali,Cosimo, AU - Berardesca,Enzo, PY - 2011/1/19/entrez PY - 2011/1/19/pubmed PY - 2011/2/18/medline SP - 61 EP - 4 JF - Archives of dermatology JO - Arch Dermatol VL - 147 IS - 1 N2 - BACKGROUND: The presence of yellow dots is a characteristic dermoscopic finding in alopecia areata. The aim of this study was to investigate the yellow dot pattern observed at dermoscopy in alopecia areata with reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and correlate RCM findings with pathological features. OBSERVATIONS: Six patients affected by alopecia totalis entered the study. Patients were first submitted to scalp dermoscopy, which was followed by RCM examination of the same area. After RCM, a 5-mm punch biopsy specimen was also taken. Dermoscopic findings showed the yellow dot pattern in all patients, with round or polycyclic yellow-pink dots often containing miniaturized or broken hair shafts. At RCM, a Vivablock mosaic taken at the level of the spinous layer showed striking reduction of follicular adnexal structures and empty lumina containing highly refractile material corresponding to the yellow dots seen on dermoscopy. The pathological features showed that the yellow dots correspond to the dilated infundibula of the velluslike anagen and telogen follicles that characterize the chronic phase of alopecia areata. CONCLUSION: The RCM study of the yellow dot pattern showed a good correlation with the dermoscopic and pathological findings and confirms that the yellow dots correspond to inefficient follicular structures that often contain hair remnants. SN - 1538-3652 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/21242396/Reflectance_confocal_microscopy_of_the_yellow_dot_pattern_in_alopecia_areata_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -