Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Scalp Following Synthetic Hair Implantation: A Structured Narrative Review and the Seventh Case Reported in Literature

Synthetic hair implantation was previously employed as a cosmetic treatment for androgenic alopecia but has been associated with delayed complications related to chronic foreign body reactions. We report a rare case of squamous cell carcinoma arising on the scalp at the site of prior synthetic hair implantation, many years after the initial procedure. The patient presented with a persistent, non-healing scalp lesion associated with recurrent inflammation and scarring in the area of previous implantation. Clinical evaluation and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma, necessitating surgical management and reconstruction. This case draws attention to a potential long-term malignant complication of synthetic hair grafting and underscores the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion when assessing chronic or recurrent scalp lesions in patients with a history of this procedure.

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Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2026-04-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.106938
Primary Topic
Hair Growth and Disorders
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Scalp Following Synthetic Hair Implantation: A Structured Narrative Review and the Seventh Case Reported in Literature

G. Pajardi, Leonardo Brambilla, Andrea Di Cristofori, Andrea Marchesi et al.
Cureus
Hair Growth and Disorders
article

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Scalp Following Synthetic Hair Implantation: A Structured Narrative Review and the Seventh Case Reported in Literature

G. Pajardi, Leonardo Brambilla, Andrea Di Cristofori, Andrea Marchesi, Matilde Mantovani
article en

Abstract

Synthetic hair implantation was previously employed as a cosmetic treatment for androgenic alopecia but has been associated with delayed complications related to chronic foreign body reactions. We report a rare case of squamous cell carcinoma arising on the scalp at the site of prior synthetic hair implantation, many years after the initial procedure. The patient presented with a persistent, non-healing scalp lesion associated with recurrent inflammation and scarring in the area of previous implantation. Clinical evaluation and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma, necessitating surgical management and reconstruction. This case draws attention to a potential long-term malignant complication of synthetic hair grafting and underscores the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion when assessing chronic or recurrent scalp lesions in patients with a history of this procedure.

Cureus
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 25%
Hair Growth and Disorders
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