Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39652914›Full record

ArticleDermatology practical & conceptual2024

Concordance Among In Vivo Reflectance Confocal Microscopy, Trichoscopy, and Histopathology in the Evaluation of Alopecia Areata Incognita.

Michela Starace, Nathalie De Carvalho, Daniel Fernandes Melo, Stephano Cedirian, Victor Desmond Mandel, Carla Jorge Machado, Cosimo Misciali, Giovanni Pellacani, Bianca Maria Piraccini, Marco Ardigò

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Dermatology practical & conceptual, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Scalp Biopsies for Alopecia.Dermatopathology (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Michela StaraceDermatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
Nathalie De CarvalhoDepartment of Dermatology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Daniel Fernandes MeloDermatology Department, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Stephano CedirianDermatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
Victor Desmond MandelPorphyria and Rare Diseases Unit, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute-IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Carla Jorge MachadoPreventive and Social Medicine Department, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Cosimo MiscialiDermatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
Giovanni PellacaniDepartment of Dermatology, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Bianca Maria PiracciniDermatology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
Marco ArdigòDermatology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesAlopecia areata incognita is a non-scarring autoimmune hair loss condition primarily affecting women aged 20 to 40. It is often misdiagnosed due to its resemblance to other conditions. Diagnosis relies on clinical suspicion, trichoscopic findings, and histological features. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) shows promise as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for alopecia areata incognita. In this study, we aimed to explore RCM's diagnostic potential by investigating its association with trichoscopic and histopathological findings.

methodsWe conducted a prospective study with 12 female patients affected by alopecia areata incognita. Patient data, trichoscopy, and RCM were used for diagnosis. Biopsies were taken based on trichoscopic and RCM criteria. Agreement between RCM, trichoscopy, and histopathology was assessed.

resultsRCM showed substantial agreement with histopathology for fibrous tracts (92.9%). Other criteria, like infundibular ostia and inflammation, exhibited reasonable agreement (71.4% to 78.6%), with varying Kappa values. Miniaturized follicles had the lowest agreement (64.3%).

conclusionThis study suggests that RCM holds promise as a diagnostic tool for alopecia areata incognita, offering advantages in non-invasiveness and real-time monitoring. It demonstrated substantial agreement with histopathology in identifying key features. While some discrepancies were noted, especially in detecting inflammatory infiltrates, further research may enhance RCM's sensitivity. The non-invasive nature of RCM could improve patient experiences and offer dynamic disease tracking for better treatment decisions. This technology's potential extends beyond alopecia areata incognita, presenting opportunities for more patient-friendly diagnostic procedures in trichology.

Identifiers

PMID39652914
PMCPMC11620011

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.