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Eosinophils in fibrous tracts and near hair bulbs: a helpful diagnostic feature of alopecia areata.
J Am Acad Dermatol. 1997 Jul; 37(1):101-6.JA

Abstract

BACKGROUND

When biopsy specimens lack a "swarm of bees" peribulbar lymphoid infiltrate, the diagnosis of alopecia areata depends on the recognition of other histologic features of the disease.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to determine the frequency of the presence of eosinophils in biopsy specimens of alopecia area'a in relation to the other major histologic features of the disease.

METHODS

Biopsy specimens from 71 patients with alopecia areata were studied.

RESULTS

Eosinophils were present in 38 of the 71 cases. A peribulbar lymphoid infiltrate was absent in 27 of the 71 cases. Eosinophils were present in 13 of these cases. Multiple catagen hairs and pigment casts (features which may lead to confusion with trichotillomania) were present in 39 cases. The presence of eosinophils was found to be a helpful diagnostic feature in cases with potential for misdiagnoses as trichotillomania.

CONCLUSION

Eosinophils are common in all stages of alopecia areata, both within the peribulbar infiltrate and within fibrous tracts. A "swarm of bees" peribulbar infiltrate may be absent. The presence of eosinophils is a helpful diagnostic feature of alopecia areata.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Elston DM
Dermatology Service, Wilford Hall Air Force, TX, USA.
McCollough ML
No affiliation info available
Bergfeld WF
No affiliation info available
Liranzo MO
No affiliation info available
Heibel M
No affiliation info available

MeSH

Alopecia AreataBiopsyEosinophilsHairHair FollicleHumansScalp

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

9216531

Citation

Elston, D M., et al. "Eosinophils in Fibrous Tracts and Near Hair Bulbs: a Helpful Diagnostic Feature of Alopecia Areata." Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, vol. 37, no. 1, 1997, pp. 101-6.
Elston DM, McCollough ML, Bergfeld WF, et al. Eosinophils in fibrous tracts and near hair bulbs: a helpful diagnostic feature of alopecia areata. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1997;37(1):101-6.
Elston, D. M., McCollough, M. L., Bergfeld, W. F., Liranzo, M. O., & Heibel, M. (1997). Eosinophils in fibrous tracts and near hair bulbs: a helpful diagnostic feature of alopecia areata. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 37(1), 101-6.
Elston DM, et al. Eosinophils in Fibrous Tracts and Near Hair Bulbs: a Helpful Diagnostic Feature of Alopecia Areata. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1997;37(1):101-6. PubMed PMID: 9216531.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Eosinophils in fibrous tracts and near hair bulbs: a helpful diagnostic feature of alopecia areata. AU - Elston,D M, AU - McCollough,M L, AU - Bergfeld,W F, AU - Liranzo,M O, AU - Heibel,M, PY - 1997/7/1/pubmed PY - 2000/4/25/medline PY - 1997/7/1/entrez SP - 101 EP - 6 JF - Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology JO - J Am Acad Dermatol VL - 37 IS - 1 N2 - BACKGROUND: When biopsy specimens lack a "swarm of bees" peribulbar lymphoid infiltrate, the diagnosis of alopecia areata depends on the recognition of other histologic features of the disease. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the frequency of the presence of eosinophils in biopsy specimens of alopecia area'a in relation to the other major histologic features of the disease. METHODS: Biopsy specimens from 71 patients with alopecia areata were studied. RESULTS: Eosinophils were present in 38 of the 71 cases. A peribulbar lymphoid infiltrate was absent in 27 of the 71 cases. Eosinophils were present in 13 of these cases. Multiple catagen hairs and pigment casts (features which may lead to confusion with trichotillomania) were present in 39 cases. The presence of eosinophils was found to be a helpful diagnostic feature in cases with potential for misdiagnoses as trichotillomania. CONCLUSION: Eosinophils are common in all stages of alopecia areata, both within the peribulbar infiltrate and within fibrous tracts. A "swarm of bees" peribulbar infiltrate may be absent. The presence of eosinophils is a helpful diagnostic feature of alopecia areata. SN - 0190-9622 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/9216531/Eosinophils_in_fibrous_tracts_and_near_hair_bulbs:_a_helpful_diagnostic_feature_of_alopecia_areata_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -