Title : Hair transplantation of some post cancer alopecia
Abstract:
Introduction: Alopecia is one of the most common adverse events caused by numerous anticancer agents or radiotherapy. Alopecia in cancer patients is not a life-threatening event, it has a significantly negative psychological and social impact.The incidence of alopecia in patients treated after cancer is frequent. The efficacy of Minoxidil in endocrine-therapy induced alopecia has been reported if there is some remaining or vellus.
Objectives: The aim of this presentation is to assess the efficacy and safety of definitive hair transplantation in the treatment of definitive alopecia after various cancer treatments such as endocrine therapy, after breast cancer or scalp radiotherapy after brain tumor.
Materials & Methods: Various definitive alopecia (cicatricial or not) have been grafted with “follicular unit long hair” technique. With this technique a strip of unshaved hair is harvested from the donor area, segmented into follicular units under stereomicroscope and transplanted into the recipient area. The hair density, thickness and growth rate were assessed with a digitalized phototrichogram on the donor area (trichoscale®).
The efficacy on global hair coverage was assessed by the surgeon and patient themselves.
Conclusion: Androgenetic endocrine-therapy induced alopecia after breast cancer or definitive post radiotherapy alopecia after brain tumor are not rare. Hair transplantation has demonstrated its efficacy for the long term treatment of this kind of alopecia. Since no shaving is needed with “follicular unit long hair” technique, this is particularly recommended in women. For male it can be used the follicular unit excision procedure after a prior shaving. The advantages of hair transplantation are the long-lasting effect, the poor side effects and the absence of compliance issue.
