Secondary Alopecia Neoplastica Mimicking Alopecia Areata following Breast Cancer

Abstract

Cutaneous metastases from visceral carcinomas are relatively uncommon, with an overall incidence ranging from 0.7 to 9%. Diagnosis of scalp metastases usually escapes clinicians and dermatologists due to the fact that these metastases are mimicking other benign dermatological conditions. Herein, we present an uncommon case of scalp alopecia neoplastica mimicking alopecia areata due to breast cancer; a 43-year-old woman diagnosed with lobular cancer 3 years previously presented with acute loss of hair in well-circumscribed areas of the scalp and was diagnosed with alopecia areata by a private-practice dermatologist. She was then reevaluated, and due to her history of breast cancer, a biopsy from the scalp was performed and revealed alopecia neoplastica. At the same time that the skin lesions were recognized as disease involvement, the patient presented with dyspepsia, and endoscopy of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract also revealed metastasis to the stomach and bowel. Gastrointestinal metastasis may occur with several types of cancer, but the stomach and bowel are rare metastatic sites for breast cancer.