Alopecic and aseptic nodules of the scalp: an underdiagnosed entity

Article information

Arch Plast Surg. 2022;49(1):59-60

Publication date (electronic) : 2022 January 15

doi : https://doi.org/10.5999/aps.2021.01459

Kun-Yong Sung^1,*, Seungkoo Lee^2,*, Yeonjin Jeong³, Sang-Yeul Lee^,3

¹Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea

²Department of Anatomic Pathology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea

³Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea

Correspondence: Sang-Yeul Lee Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kangwon National University Hospital, 156 Baengnyeong-ro, Chuncheon 24289, Korea Tel: +82-33-258-9258, Fax: +82-33-258-4920, E-mail: serafin5@unitel.co.kr

^*

The two authors contributed equally to this work.

Received 2020 July 23; Revised 2021 September 6; Accepted 2021 September 30.

Alopecic and aseptic nodules of the scalp (AANS) is an underdiagnosed entity characterized by one or more dome-shaped alopecic nodule(s) that predominantly affects young men. The singular aspect of the nodules, nonscarring alopecia, deep inflammatory infiltrate, and efficacy of doxycycline confer specificity to AANS [1]. The etiology remains unclear, but AANS might be included in a spectrum of diseases such as dissecting cellulitis of the scalp, acne conglobate, and hidradenitis suppurativa, which share the common pathogenesis: follicular occlusion, follicular rupture, then follicular infection. AANS is diagnosed based on clinicohistopathological features. The preferred treatment is doxycycline. Other options include aspiration or puncture, intralesional corticosteroid injection, and surgical excision. The prognosis is usually good, and alopecia is reversible either spontaneously or after treatment especially with doxycycline [1]. Herein, we report a case of AANS to facilitate its recognition and proper management. A 22-year-old man presented with an asymptomatic scalp mass lasting 3 weeks (Fig. 1A). Physical examination revealed a dome-shaped, tender, fluctuating, and alopecic nodule in the occipital region. The puncture was negative. Intraoperatively, the lesion was filled with chronic granulation tissue (Fig. 1B). After surgical removal of the lesion, the involved scalp was minimally excised and closed. Histopathologic examination showed a chronic inflammatory lesion along with mixed inflammatory cells in the deep dermis (Fig. 2). The postoperative course was uneventful over 6 months postoperatively and the hair growth in the area previously affected by the lesion was restored. Considering that only a portion of the alopecic area was excised during the excisional biopsy, we believe that alopecia was recovered spontaneously following the natural courses of the lesion. This underdiagnosed entity requires careful clinical consideration to make an accurate diagnosis and adequately manage patients. AANS should be differentiated from other scalp lesions such as inflamed trichilemmal cysts, alopecia areata, bacterial folliculitis, dissecting cellulitis of the scalp, and metastatic nodules [2].

Fig. 1.

Clinical features of the patient. (A) Preoperative photograph showing a 2.5-cm diameter, dome-shaped alopecic nodule in the occipital region. (B) Intraoperative photograph showing the lesion filled with granulation tissue.

Fig. 2.

Microscopic examination. (A) Inflammatory lesion in the deep dermis (H&E, ×15). (B) Inflammatory lesion showing mixed chronic and acute inflammatory cells, such as lymphocytes, plasma cells, neutrophils, and histiocytes (H&E, ×40).