To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: ASDP: Scalp Biopsies Help Diagnose Trichotillomania URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/22025A.htm Doctor's Guide October 14, 2002
By Alison Palkhivala Special to DG News PHOENIX, AZ -- October 13, 2002 -- Scalp biopsies are a useful tool for the diagnosis trichotillomania. Wilma Bergfeld, MD, from the department of dermatology and colleagues from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, determined whether scalp biopsy could be helpful in the diagnosis of trichotillomania. Trichotillomania is a difficult condition to diagnose because it can mimic other diseases, and patients rarely disclose their hair pulling behaviour. Dr. Bergfeld and colleagues examined 28 scalp biopsies from 26 patients who had been diagnosed with trichotillomania, based on both histopathological and clinical evidence. They presented their findings here October 11 at the annual meeting of the American Society of Dermatopathology (ASDP). Patients were aged 13 to 78, with a mean age of 42. All but 2 were female, and trichotillomania was chronic in all cases. Among these patients, the most common histologic findings were follicular plugging in 96 percent of patients, decreased total number of follicles in 96 percent, reversed anagen:telogen ratio in 86 percent and melanoderma in 65 percent of patients. Two features commonly reported to be specifically associated with trichotillomania are the presence of trichomalacia and pigmented casts, found in 57 percent and 36 percent of this patient population, respectively. According to the authors, "scalp biopsies are valuable in the diagnosis of trichotillomania." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.