Long-term effects of total skin electron beam therapy for mycosis fungoides on hair and nail loss and regrowth

Abstract

Objective

To better document the risk of permanent hair and nail loss after total skin electron beam therapy (TSEBT) for mycosis fungoides (MF).

Methods

Interviews and evaluations were conducted in 13 patients with MF treated with TSEBT alone and two patients treated with concomitant TSEBT and chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP). Evaluated parameters included time to hair and nail loss and regrowth, the density of hair regrowth, and quality of hair and nail regrowth.

Results

Most patients had complete loss of scalp hair during treatment, and new growth appeared about 2 months following treatment completion. After 18 months, most patients felt their hair had regrown to about 70% of baseline thickness without cosmetically obvious alopecia. The patients treated with TSEBT and concomitant chemotherapy had substantially less scalp hair regrowth with persistent cosmetically obvious alopecia. Some lost eyebrows and eyelashes, but complete or near-complete regrowth generally occurred. Most patients lost their nails following TSEBT, with complete regrowth noted by most patients 5 months after treatment. New nails were most often normal, but a few patients developed post-therapy nail dystrophies.

Conclusion

This data can be used to better inform patients of likely long-term changes of hair and nails following TSEBT.

Keywords:

• Radiotherapy
• alopecia
• nail loss
• mycosis fungoides

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).