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Congenital triangular alopecia - Hair and Scalp
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Congenital triangular alopecia - Hair and Scalp

Contributors: Aman Samrao MD, Noah Craft MD, PhD, Mary Gail Mercurio MD, Jeffrey D. Bernhard MD, Lowell A. Goldsmith MD, MPH
Other Resources UpToDate PubMed

Synopsis

Congenital triangular alopecia, also known as temporal triangular alopecia, is a localized patch of alopecia on the frontotemporal scalp. It typically appears within the first 2-9 years of life and very rarely in adulthood. There is no sex predilection, and the disorder is more common in whites and Asians. Familial forms have been reported.

Temporal triangular alopecia presents as loss of hair in a triangular, lancet-shaped, or ovoid pattern on the frontotemporal scalp. The base of the lesion extends to the frontal hairline, while the point, or "tip," of the lesion extends onto the temporal scalp. There is no sharp demarcation between the alopecia and the rest of the scalp. The alopecia is typically unilateral but can be bilateral. A few terminal and/or vellus hairs may be present within the patch of alopecia, or the patch may be completely devoid of hair. However, inflammation and scarring are not present. The size of the lesion remains unchanged throughout life.

There are no known predisposing factors for this variant of alopecia, but case reports of associated conditions include Down syndrome, phakomatosis pigmentovascularis, and seizures.

Codes

ICD10CM:
Q84.0 – Congenital alopecia

SNOMEDCT:
403535008 – Triangular alopecia

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Diagnostic Pearls

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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls

  • Alopecia areata – Hair loss continues to spread. Responds to intralesional corticosteroids. Associated with "exclamation point" type of broken hairs within the areas of alopecia.
  • Traction alopecia – Usually bilateral and symmetric, with a clinical history of traction. Typically presents at a later age; can show signs of inflammation.
  • Androgenetic alopecia (male pattern or female pattern) – Diffuse pattern of hair loss.

Best Tests

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Management Pearls

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Therapy

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References

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Last Updated:09/03/2013
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Congenital triangular alopecia - Hair and Scalp
A medical illustration showing key findings of Congenital triangular alopecia : Temporal scalp
Clinical image of Congenital triangular alopecia - imageId=2152423. Click to open in gallery.  caption: 'A patch of alopecia at the temporal scalp.'
A patch of alopecia at the temporal scalp.
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