Contents

SynopsisCodesLook ForDiagnostic PearlsDifferential Diagnosis & PitfallsBest TestsManagement PearlsTherapyDrug Reaction DataReferences

View all Images (13)

Alopecia mucinosa - Hair and Scalp
See also in: Overview
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Alopecia mucinosa - Hair and Scalp

See also in: Overview
Contributors: Vivian Wong MD, PhD, Mary Gail Mercurio MD, Belinda Tan MD, PhD, Susan Burgin MD
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

Alopecia mucinosa, also known as follicular mucinosis, is a rare condition characterized by follicular papules and indurated plaques leading to nonscarring alopecia. Although lesions can occur anywhere on the body, the most common sites are the face, neck, and scalp. The distinct histologic changes are an accumulation of mucinous material of the pilosebaceous unit, which incites an inflammatory response and follicular damage.

The 3 clinical variants of the disease consist of the following: a primary acute disorder of young people, usually involving the face and scalp; a primary chronic disorder of older people, which can be generalized in distribution; and a secondary disorder associated with benign inflammatory conditions or malignant disease (lymphoma), also usually seen in older people. In this latter category, folliculotropic mycosis fungoides is frequently associated. Other reported associations include underlying hematologic malignancy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, infections, and eosinophilic folliculitis. Drug-induced cases due to captopril, oxcarbazepine, and imatinib have been reported.

Pediatric Patient Considerations:
Pediatric cases are generally of the primary acute variant. Lesions generally spontaneously resolve in a few months to a few years. Childhood alopecia mucinosa may rarely be associated with Hodgkin disease or mycosis fungoides.

Codes

ICD10CM:
L65.2 – Alopecia mucinosa

SNOMEDCT:
27382006 – Alopecia mucinosa

Look For

Subscription Required

Diagnostic Pearls

Subscription Required

Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

To perform a comparison, select diagnoses from the classic differential

Subscription Required

Best Tests

Subscription Required

Management Pearls

Subscription Required

Therapy

Subscription Required

Drug Reaction Data

Subscription Required

References

Subscription Required

Last Reviewed:07/09/2020
Last Updated:07/20/2020
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.
Alopecia mucinosa - Hair and Scalp
See also in: Overview
A medical illustration showing key findings of Alopecia mucinosa : Pink color, Smooth plaque, Sparse eyebrows, Alopecia
Clinical image of Alopecia mucinosa - imageId=2831863. Click to open in gallery.  caption: 'A close-up of a faint red-brown plaque displaying whitish follicularly-based papules.'
A close-up of a faint red-brown plaque displaying whitish follicularly-based papules.
Copyright © 2024 VisualDx®. All rights reserved.