| Cutis verticis gyrata | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
| OMIM | 219300 605685 304200 |
Cutis verticis gyrata (CVG) is a superficial medical condition usually associated with thickening of the scalp.[1] The condition was first described by Alibert in 1837.[2]
Sufferers show visible folds, ridges or creases on the surface of the top of the scalp.[3] The number of folds can vary from 2 to roughly 10 and are typically soft and spongy. These folds cannot be corrected with pressure. The condition typically affects the central and rear regions of the scalp, but can sometimes can involve the entire scalp.
Hair loss can occur over time where the scalp thickens, though hair within any furrows remains normal. Thus far, due to the (apparent) rarity of the condition, limited research exists and causes are as yet undetermined. What is known, is that the condition is not exclusively congenital.
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CVG is classified according to the presence, or lack of, underlying cause. Studies suggest that CVG often occurs in individuals in a secondary form to other ailments. However, the condition can also be present on its own.
The classifications are:
Primary CVG is where the cause of the condition in unknown.
Primary essential CVG has no other associated abnormalities. This occurs mainly in men, with a male:female ratio of 5 or 6:1, and develops during or soon after puberty. Because of the slow progression of the condition, which usually occurs without symptom, it often passes unnoticed in the early stage [4]
Primary non essential CVG can be associated with neuropsychiatric disorders including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, seizures and ophthalmologic abnormalities, most commonly cataracts.
Secondary CVG occurs as a consequence of a number of diseases or drugs that produce changes in scalp structure. These include: acromegaly (excessive growth hormone levels due to pituitary gland tumours), excessive drug use that mimics acromegaly (including the injection of growth hormone itself and drugs that stimulate growth hormone output, such as GHRP-6 and CJC-1295), melanocytic naevi (moles), birthmarks (including connective tissue naevi, fibromas and naevus lipomatosus), and inflammatory processes (e.g., eczema, psoriasis, Darier disease, folliculitis, impetigo, atopic dermatitis, acne).
There is no cure for this condition and currently, medical treatment is limited to plastic surgery with excision of the folds by means of scalp reduction and more recently scalp subcision[5]