The Trichoscopic Features of Hair Shaft Anomalies Induced by Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors: A Case Series

March 2020 in “ Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology ”

Noa Kremer, Helena Saura Martinez, Yael A. Leshem, Emmilia Hodak, Alona Zer, Baruch Brenner, Iris Amitay‐Laish

epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors trichoscopic features hair shaft anomalies pili torti trichomegaly dermoscopic findings asymmetric hyperpigmented fusiform widening EGFR inhibitors

Studysummary This study observed that trichoscopic changes associated with EGFRI treatment include pili torti and asymmetric hyperpigmented fusiform widening, along with dermoscopic skin manifestations such as scale and branching vessels. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

This case series evaluated the trichoscopic features of hair shaft anomalies in 23 patients treated with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRIs) at a tertiary oncodermatology clinic between 2015 and 2017. The study found that 78% of patients exhibited dry, lusterless, coarse, kinky, brittle scalp hair, and 74% had trichomegaly of the eyebrows/eyelashes. Trichoscopic findings included pili torti in 87% of scalp hair cases, and asymmetric hyperpigmented fusiform widening in 13% of scalp hair cases. Dermoscopic findings included scale, whitish erythematous structureless areas, and branching vessels. The study highlighted the lack of trichoscopic-histologic correlation and baseline examination as limitations.

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