Tamoxifen-Induced Total Alopecia
Authors: Fabio Puglisi, Giuseppe Aprile, Alberto Sobrero
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2001)

Letters19 June 2001Tamoxifen-Induced Total AlopeciaFabio Puglisi, MD, Giuseppe Aprile, MD, and Alberto Sobrero, MDFabio Puglisi, MDPoliclinico Universitario; I-33100 Udine, Italy (Puglisi, Aprile, Sobrero), Giuseppe Aprile, MDPoliclinico Universitario; I-33100 Udine, Italy (Puglisi, Aprile, Sobrero), and Alberto Sobrero, MDPoliclinico Universitario; I-33100 Udine, Italy (Puglisi, Aprile, Sobrero)Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-134-12-200106190-00029 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:We describe a case of alopecia in a 53-year-old woman receiving the antiestrogen tamoxifen (20 mg/d) for biopsy-proven, estrogen receptor–positive metastases to the supraclavicular lymph nodes. The patient was taking no other medications.Mild alopecia occurred after 3 months, with hair loss in the frontal (Figure, top) and nuchal areas. The patient continued tamoxifen treatment, although alopecia progressively worsened. At the most recent follow-up visit (13 months after tamoxifen therapy was started), the patient wore a wig to mask complete hair loss (Figure, bottom). Hair distribution was normal in other areas of the body. Complete blood count, ...References1. Ayoub JP, Valero V, Hortobagyi GN. Tamoxifen-induced female androgenetic alopecia in a patient with breast cancer [Letter]. Ann Intern Med. 1997;126:745-6. [PMID: 0009139575] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Gateley CA, Bundred NJ. Alopecia and breast disease. BMJ. 1997;314:481. [PMID: 0009056798] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Paus R, Cotsarelis G. The biology of hair follicles. N Engl J Med. 1999;341:491-7. [PMID: 0010441606] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Policlinico Universitario; I-33100 Udine, Italy (Puglisi, Aprile, Sobrero) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byAlopécie et cancers : de la physiopathologie à la pratique cliniquePermanent alopecia in patients with breast cancer after taxane chemotherapy and adjuvant hormonal therapy: Clinicopathologic findings in a cohort of 10 patientsTamoxifenFármacos y alopeciaAnalysis of quantitative changes in hair growth during treatment with chemotherapy or tamoxifen in patients with breast cancer: a cohort studyPattern Alopecia during Hormonal Anticancer Therapy in Patients with Breast CancerDistinctive histopathologic findings in linear morphea ( en coup de sabre ) alopeciaRadiation- and Chemotherapy-Induced Permanent Alopecia: Case SeriesFemale pattern hair loss possibly caused by tamoxifen: Androgen receptor expression in the outer root sheath in the affected areaHair shaft abnormalities after chemotherapy and tamoxifen therapy in patients with breast cancer evaluated by optical coherence tomographyPermanent chemotherapy-induced alopecia: A reviewDRUGS USED IN CANCER CHEMOTHERAPYSEX HORMONES AND RELATED DRUGSToremifene: An evaluation of its safety profileTamoxifenSex hormones and related compounds, including hormonal contraceptivesTamoxifen 19 June 2001Volume 134, Issue 12Page: 1154-1155KeywordsBreast cancerComplete blood countDecision makingEstrogensLymph nodesPatientsSex hormonesTestosteroneThyroidToxicity ePublished: 19 June 2001 Issue Published: 19 June 2001 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2001 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...