Cutaneous metastasis of breast carcinoma presenting as alopecia neoplastica

South Med J. 2009 Apr;102(4):385-9. doi: 10.1097/SMJ.0b013e31819b0c26.

Abstract

Alopecia neoplastica is defined as hair loss secondary to a visceral malignancy that has metastasized to the scalp. We describe a woman with adenocarcinoma of the breast who developed alopecia neoplastica while receiving antineoplastic therapy. Alopecia neoplastica has been observed in 25 women. Breast cancer was the primary malignancy in 84% of patients with alopecia neoplastica. Other primary tumors whose metastases presented as neoplasm-related hair loss each occurred in one individual with gastric carcinoma, colon carcinoma, cervical carcinoma, and trophoblastic tumor.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary*
  • Adenocarcinoma / therapy
  • Alopecia / pathology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Scalp / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Skin Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Skin Neoplasms / therapy