Post-cochlear implant surgery Alopecia Areata in ophiasis pattern

Abstract

Background: Alopecia Areata is a form of relapsing nonscarring hair loss, which is a poorly understood autoimmune phenomenon characterized by T-cell inflammation as a result of environmental and genetic factors.

Aims and Methods: There are numerous types of alopecia areata, but in this article we describe a case of a patient with alopecia in the post-operative setting of bilateral cochlear implantation in an ophiasis pattern.

Results: While the patient was lost to follow up and a biopsy could not be obtained for confirmation, the physical exam and clinical scenario point to a diagnosis of alopecia areata ophiasis.

Conclusions: This autoimmune condition, especially in the ophiasis pattern, is quite rare and carries a rather variable clinical course and response rate to treatment. As genetic predisposition and environmental factors such as stress from surgery can contribute, it is likely a rare post-operative condition but one to keep in mind.

Keywords:

• Cochlear implant
• alopecia
• ophiasis
• post-operative

Disclosure statement

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