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Resumo -OBJETIVOS. O estudo procurou identificar e analisar as

Background: Frontal fibrosing alopecia is considered a particular clinical form of lichen planopilaris that primarily involves the scalp hair over the frontal hairline. Concomitant involvement of vellus at different body sites has recently been reported. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the involvement of facial vellus by effects of the inflammatory process. Unlike the usual noninflammatory clinical presentation of vellus involvement over other body areas, facial vellus involvement can lead to surface changes that may be recognized both by patients and dermatologists. Observations: Four patients with typical clinical features of frontal fibrosing alopecia presented with noninflammatory follicular papules over the face, most often inside the temporal area, and described as "roughness" by the patients. Histologic samples showed lichen planopilaris features involving the facial vellus. Conclusions: The new concept of frontal fibrosing alopecia as a generalized disease is important for treatment planning and research. Dermatologists must learn to recognize facial surface changes and discuss these with the patients, who may attribute this roughness to aging or hormonal changes associated with menopause. Further studies are needed to determine the prevalence of this involvement in patients with frontal fibrosing alopecia.

To determine the effect of patch testing on surgical decision making and outcomes in patients evaluated for suspected metal hypersensitivity related to implants in bones or joints. Design: Medical chart review. Setting: Tertiary care academic medical center. Participants: All patients who had patch testing for allergic contact dermatitis related to orthopedic implants. Intervention: Patch testing. Main Outcome Measures: The surgeon's preoperative choice of metal implant alloy compared with patch testing results and the presence of hypersensitivity complications related to the metal implant on postsurgical follow-up. Results: Patients with potential metal hypersensitivity from implanted devices (N=72) were divided into 2 groups depending on timing of their patch testing: preimplantation (n=31) and postimplantation (n=41). History of hypersensitivity to metals was a predictor of positive patch test results to metals in both groups. Positive patch test results indicating metal hypersensitivity influenced the decisionmaking process of the referring surgeon in all preimplantation cases (n=21). Patients with metal hypersensitivity who received an allergen-free implant had surgical outcomes free of hypersensitivity complications (n=21). In patients who had positive patch test results to a metal in their implant after implantation, removal of the device led to resolution of associated symptoms (6 of 10 patients). Conclusions: The findings of this study support a role for patch testing in patients with a clinical history of metal hypersensitivity before prosthetic device implantation. The decision on whether to remove an implanted device after positive patch test results should be made on a case-bycase basis, as decided by the surgeon and patient.

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