T8 MOETet peeio
A.M. A. ARCHIVES OF DERMATOLOG\
which was noted is not an unusual finding
most unusual feature of the lesion was th:
regrowth of white hair in the affecte
region of the right eyebrow, which wa
formerly black in color.
pearance of white hairs. But vitiligo is not
usually accompanied by symptoms, and
epilation does not occur. Sensitivity to
ultraviolet light is also common to vitiligo,
Dr. E. B. Helwig, of the Armed Forces Insti
tute of Pathology, and Capt. J. W. Albrittar
associated with radiation effects.®
This lesion has a certain similiarity to
vitiligo in regard to depigmentation and ap-
but in both diseases this sensitivity may be
related to lack of pigment. Scleroderma is
another disease that might bear certain
similarities.
However, in this disease the
skin usually assumes an ivory-colored, shiny
appearance with adherence of the skin to
sae
underlying parts which was not true in this
case. Pityriasis versicolor was considered
in the differential diagnosis, but the lesions
of this disease rarely occur on the face, are
fawn-colored, and epilation and sensitivity
to ultraviolet light are not characteristic.
The microscopic picture does not conform
to the well-recognized patterns of vitiligo,
scleroderma, or pityriasis versicolor.
It was considered worth while to present
this case since lesions resulting from contamination with radioactive materials may
be more commonly encountered in the fu+ awe - ea TANSa
ture in view of the increasingly widespread
use of atomic energy.
Summary
A case history of a lesion on the fore-
head and right eyebrow region, presumably
due to irradiation from contamination with
fission-product material, is presented. The
erythema, dry desquamation, depigmenta-
tion, symptoms of burning and itching,
increased sensitivity to sunlight, hyperes-
thesia, epilation of the eyebrows (with regrowth of hair), and minimal histological
changes (17 months later) particularly in
the elastic tissue were considered consistent
with radiation damage to the skin. The
666
5012916
(MC) U.S.N., made helpful comments. Lt. W. ]
Champion (MC), U.S.N., of the U. S. Naval Hos
pital, performed the biopsy.
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