Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 26, 2025
A New Technique for Quantitative Analysis of Hair Loss in Mice Using Grayscale Analysis
Published on: March 9, 2015
Vismodegib-Induced Alopecia: Trichoscopic and Confocal Microscopy Evaluation
Mariateresa Cantelli1, Milena Cappello1, Maria Vastarella1
1Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Section of Dermatology, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
Introduction:
Vismodegib is the first-in-class inhibitor of the sonic hedgehog pathway useful in the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic basal cell carcinoma (BCC) that is not amenable to surgery and radiation therapy. Common adverse events of vismodegib, probably mechanism related, include alopecia (58%) as a reversible side effect.
Case Presentation:
We report 2 cases of patients receiving vismodegib for the treatment of locally advanced BCCs that developed alopecia during treatment and describe clinical, dermoscopic, and reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) features of this adverse event.
Conclusion:
Alopecia is one of the most distressing adverse events leading to vismodegib discontinuations. To our knowledge, these are the first descriptions of RCM dermoscopy in vismodegib-induced alopecia. Trichoscopy and confocal microscopy are essential to monitoring vismodegib hair loss and the response to the treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Accessory Structures of the Skin: Hair Growth and Types
01:16Accessory Structures of the Skin: Hair and Hair Follicles
Hair is a keratinous filament growing out of the epidermis. It is primarily made of dead, keratinized cells. Hair strands originate at the epidermal penetration called the hair follicle. The hair shaft is the part...
01:11Papillary Dermis
The dermis might be considered the "core" of the integumentary system, as distinct from the epidermis and hypodermis. It contains blood and lymph vessels, nerves, and other structures, such as hair follicles and sweat glands. The dermis is made of two layers of connective tissue that comprise an interconnected mesh of elastin and collagenous fibers, produced by fibroblasts.
Papillary Layer
The papillary layer is made of loose, areolar connective tissue, which means the collagen...
01:15Reticular Dermis
Reticular Layer
Underlying the papillary layer is the much thicker reticular layer, composed of dense, irregular connective...