Alopecia mucinosa; inflammatory plaques with alopecia characterized by root-sheath mucinosis.

Abstract

The cases forming the subject of this paper were collected over a period of seven years. They are presented here with the expectation that similar cases have been seen by others. It is hoped that discussion may be stimulated and more may be learned about the nature of the disease process and the peculiar histologie changes forming its basis. Report of Cases Case1.—The first of these cases came to my attention in August, 1950, in the form of a biopsysent in by Dr. Warren L. Macaulay of Fargo, N. D. He wrote that the specimen came from a red, scaly, and slightly elevated plaque just above the medial part of the right eyebrow of a 29-year-old white man. There was some loss of hair where the lesion encroached on the eyebrow. The plaque had been present for about seven weeks and had enlarged gradually. Examination for fungi had been negative, and there was no improvement during ihree weeks when an ointment containing sulfur and salicylic acid was applied. The lesion resembled an eczematous plaque, but was somewhat more infiltrated. On biopsy, the tissue seemed gelatinous, and sarcoid, lymphoblastoma, or deep mycotic infection were considered postoperatively. The histologie changes to be described later were unusual and no definite diagnosis could be offered.