Alopecia Induced by Fluoroscopy-Guided Embolization: A Case Report
September 2024
in “
Acta Medica Philippina
”
TLDR Radiation from a medical procedure caused temporary hair loss, but hair regrew with treatment.
A 22-year-old female developed significant hair loss 12 days after undergoing fluoroscopy-guided embolization for an arteriovenous malformation, resulting in a large hairless patch. The hair loss was diagnosed as radiation-induced alopecia, confirmed by trichoscopy and histopathologic examination, which showed dystrophic anagen hairs and an increase in catagen and telogen hairs. The patient received a peak skin dose of 4.67 Gray during the procedure. Treatment with topical minoxidil led to complete hair regrowth after six months. The case highlights the importance of monitoring patients for delayed radiation reactions and implementing safety protocols to minimize radiation exposure during fluoroscopy-guided procedures.