Utility of Horizontal Sections of Scalp Biopsies in Differentiating Between Androgenetic Alopecia and Alopecia Areata

The study, conducted from March 2015 to September 2016, aimed to differentiate between Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) and Alopecia Areata (AA) using horizontal sections of scalp biopsies. The research was carried out in the Departments of Dermatology and Venereology, and Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. The study included patients diagnosed with AGA and AA, excluding those under 18, under treatment for alopecia, or with active scalp infection. Biopsies were taken from the edge of the alopecic patch and the uninvolved occipital area of the scalp in men with AGA. The biopsies were then sectioned and stained for examination. Various histological features were assessed and recorded, including the total number of hair follicles, number of terminal and vellus hair, anagen hair, non-anagen hair, and vascular stelae. The data was analyzed using Stata 12.0 software, with statistical significance assessed using Fisher’s exact test and the Kruskal-Wallis test.