A Case of Basal Cell Carcinoma Arising in Congenital Triangular Alopecia

August 2025 in “ Cureus ”

Allison Bai, Saman Namazian, Erika Elliott

congenital triangular alopecia basal cell carcinoma alopecic patch UV exposure genetic predispositions

TLDR A woman with a rare hair loss condition developed skin cancer in the bald area.

This document discusses a unique case of a 48-year-old woman with congenital triangular alopecia (CTA) who developed basal cell carcinoma (BCC) within the alopecic patch, marking the first known instance of such a transformation. The case underscores the need for careful evaluation of long-standing alopecic areas for malignancy. While the exact mechanisms connecting CTA to cancer development are unclear, potential contributing factors include changes in the local immune environment, increased UV exposure, and genetic predispositions.

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Some people with congenital triangular alopecia have a central tuft of hair in the bald patch, but the cause is unknown.

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A 17-year-old boy with Temporal Triangular Alopecia successfully grew new hair after a hair restoration surgery using follicular unit transplantation.