PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Leonard C Sperling

Publications and source records attributed to Leonard C Sperling.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The histopathology of primary cicatricial alopecia.

Alopecia typically is divided into cicatricial (scarring) and noncicatricial (nonscarring) forms. "Scarring" alopecia implies that follicular epithelium has been replaced by connective tissue and is therefore an irreversible process. In contrast, nonscarring alopecia is potentially reversible as follicular epithelia remain intact. Classification of cicatricial alopecia can be confusing and controversial as most disorders demonstrate overlapping clinical and histologic features. Herein, we present an overview of the histologic assessment of cicatricial alopecia, including an algorithmic approach to the evaluation of biopsy specimens from patients with scarring alopecia.

Alopecia↗
PubMed2006

Splitting hairs: the 'hamburger sign' in trichotillomania.

BACKGROUND: A 43-year-old male presented with the clinical findings of patchy alopecia that contained persistent hair and re-growth of hairs of various lengths, consistent with trichotillomania. A biopsy was performed to confirm the diagnosis.. RESULTS: Histologic evaluation revealed findings consistent with trichotillomania, including trichomalacia. Several hair shafts also showed a vertically oriented split, which contained proteinaceous material and erythrocytes. Morphologically, these were reminiscent of a hamburger within a bun. CONCLUSIONS: The unusual finding reported in this case has not been previously reported. The "hamburger bun sign" provides an additional clue to traumatic injury in the evaluation of biopsies for trichotillomania.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Viral-associated trichodysplasia in patients who are immunocompromised.

Viral-associated trichodysplasia of immunosuppression is a newly described clinicopathologic entity found in patients who are undergoing drug-induced immunosuppression to prevent organ transplant rejection. Patients have numerous erythematous papules concentrated in the central portion of the face and variable degrees of hair loss, most severely affecting facial hair. Histologic findings of facial papules are highly distinctive and unique, and suggest that the entire machinery of the follicular bulb is devoted to the manufacture of inner root sheath-type keratin. Electron microscopy reveals intranuclear viral particles, but precise viral identification has not yet been achieved.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

"Curly" wood and tiger tails: an explanation for light and dark banding with polarization in trichothiodystrophy.

The mechanism causing the tiger tail phenomenon in trichothiodystrophy (alternating light and dark banding of hair shafts when examined with polarized light) has yet to be explained with certainty. However, we propose a simple and easily tested hypothesis to explain its striking aspect. Although the hair shafts we obtained from patients with trichothiodystrophy were fairly straight, the cortical hair fibers were not. We noticed that these fibers undulate up and down (or back and forth), a feature that is easily observed because of melanin granules embedded in each fiber. The undulations correspond exactly to the banding seen with polarization. Therefore, the tiger tail phenomenon seen in trichothiodystrophy and other hair shaft disorders is caused by a regular undulation of hair fibers within the shafts. Normal hair shafts do not exhibit the phenomenon because the hair fibers are straight and parallel to the long axis of the hair. It is the regular undulation of fibers that changes the optical properties of the hair shafts and causes a predictable banding when the shafts are examined by polarized light.

Hair↗