Trichoscopy and LC-OCT Findings in Sonidegib-Induced Alopecia in Patients with Advanced Basal Cell Carcinoma

September 2024 in “ Dermatology Reports ”

Irina Ciobotariu, Gerardo Palmisano, Giacomo Caldarola, Alfredo Piccerillo, F. Tassone, Simone Cappilli, Alessandro Di Stefani, Ketty Peris

sonidegib Hedgehog pathway inhibitor alopecia trichoscopy LC-OCT yellow dots black dots exclamation mark hairs broken hairs follicular spaces follicular ostia cadaverized hair

Studysummary In this study, 45 patients with advanced basal cell carcinoma treated with the medication sonidegib experienced a 24% incidence of alopecia, with detailed trichoscopic and LC-OCT examination revealing specific hair changes, suggesting LC-OCT might help identify early signs of alopecia from sonidegib use.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

Sonidegib, a Hedgehog pathway inhibitor used for advanced basal cell carcinoma, frequently causes alopecia, affecting 49% of patients. In a study of 45 patients treated with sonidegib, 11 developed alopecia. Trichoscopic examination revealed features such as yellow dots, black dots, exclamation mark hairs, and broken hairs. LC-OCT findings showed yellow dots as dilated follicular spaces with nonhomogeneous material, black dots as follicular ostia with bright material and cadaverized hair, exclamation mark hairs as short, dark dysmorphic hairs, and broken hairs as short dysmorphic hairs. LC-OCT can offer additional insights into the early signs and progression of sonidegib-induced alopecia.

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