Severe Unilateral Alopecia in a Long-Term Surviving Male Adolescent Glioblastoma Multiforme Patient

Radiation-induced alopecia (RIA) typically presents as transiently or persistently non-scarring alopecia with a distinct geometric pattern, and minoxidil sometimes serves as an effective therapeutic agent. However, there have been no reported cases of severe unilateral alopecia following radiotherapy for pediatric glioblastoma multiforme (p-GBM), that was unresponsive to minoxidil treatment.

This case presents a 17-year-old male with severe unilateral alopecia, who was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and consequently received radiochemotherapy. Remarkably, he has survived beyond three years without evidence of tumor recurrence, but with the sole persistent issue being the left-sided alopecia. Despite intensive therapeutic interventions comprising 12 months of topical 5% minoxidil therapy (twice daily) combined with three courses of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections administered at 4-week intervals, the alopecic area showed no significant improvement and eventually progressed to permanent alopecia.

The prevention and treatment of RIA remain poorly understood, and this clinical scenario urgently necessitates the exploration of novel therapeutic strategies.