Diagnostic Accuracy Measures for Vertical and Transverse Scalp Biopsies in Cicatricial and Non-Cicatricial Alopecias

March 2018 in “ Dermatologica Sinica ”

Kambiz Kamyab-Hesari, Nessa Aghazadeh, P Nourmohammadpour, Alireza Ghanadan, Azita Nikoo, Fatameh Gholamali, Mommad-Javad Nazemi, Ziba Rahbar

vertical sectioning transverse sectioning scalp biopsies cicatricial alopecia non-cicatricial alopecia diagnostic accuracy diagnostic odds ratio V sectioning T sectioning

TLDR Transverse scalp biopsies are more accurate for diagnosing non-cicatricial alopecia, but examining both types is best for accuracy.

The study investigated the effectiveness of vertical (V) and transverse (T) sectioning in scalp biopsies for diagnosing cicatricial and non-cicatricial alopecias in 194 patients. It found that certain features were better detected in T sections, while others in V sections. Transverse sectioning had a higher diagnostic accuracy, particularly for non-cicatricial alopecia, with a diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of 157.5 compared to 21.2 for vertical sectioning. The study concluded that both V and T sections should be examined for an accurate diagnosis, but if only one biopsy is possible, T sectioning is recommended for non-cicatricial alopecia. The study's findings were supported by a research grant from Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

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