Vandetanib-Associated Alopecia Areata in a Patient with Metastatic Medullary Thyroid Cancer

The document describes a case where a 42-year-old Caucasian man with metastatic medullary thyroid cancer developed alopecia areata after beginning treatment with vandetanib, a drug used to inhibit certain protein kinases. The patient, who had a history of androgenic alopecia and had previously undergone a thyroidectomy, started experiencing additional hair loss within a week of starting the medication. Despite the onset of alopecia areata, the patient's cancer responded to the treatment, leading to an increased dosage of vandetanib, and the patient opted not to treat the alopecia. This case suggests that alopecia areata may be a side effect of vandetanib, and the condition should be considered when patients on this medication experience hair loss. The document also touches on the pathogenesis, clinical features, and treatment options for alopecia areata, noting the high failure rate of treatments due to the complex causes of the disease.