Alopecia Mucinosa of the Face Associated With Mycosis Fungoides

Alopecia mucinosa is classified into two categories. 1 One is the idiopathic or primary variety, which is benign and without associated disease. The second is the form seen in association with lymphoma, usually mycosis fungoides. Reviews of series of patients with alopecia mucinosa 2,3 suggest that when small numbers of lesions are present, and particularly when these are limited to the head and neck, the course will be benign. We report a case in which this was not so. Report of a Case A 41-year-old woman was seen in April 1976 because of three enlarging facial plaques of nine months' duration. In 1973 she had been hospitalized for a generalized eczematous dermatitis. Patch tests at that time showed 2+ reactions to nickel, chrome, balsam of Peru, and a caine mixture. It was also believed that she had atopic dermatitis. That episode of eczematous dermatitis was controlled with fluocinolone acetonide and