PRIMARY CUTIS-VERTICIS-GYRATA OR PACHYDERMIA VERTICIS GYRATA - A PECULIAR SCALP DISORDER OF MENTALLY-RETARDED ADULT MALES

Background: Primary or idiopathic cutis verticis gyrata (CVG) is often associated with mental retardation or chronic schizophrenia. Objectiv e: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of prim ary CVG and its histological aspects in a psychiatric adult population . Methods: Eighty-three hospitalized psychiatric adult patients were e xamined for the primary form of CVG. Forty-nine (44 males and 5 female s) out of them were schizophrenic, 16 (14 males and 2 females) were me ntally retarded and the remaining is were affected by different psychi atric disorders. Results: Three males, 2 mentally retarded and 1 schiz ophrenic, were found to be affected and the clinical diagnosis was con firmed histologically. Conclusion: The high prevalence of primary CVG in males with mental retardation might be explained by ethnic factors or by the use of an adequate diagnostic methodology, improved by shavi ng the scalp hair in patients suspected to be affected. The term pachy dermia verticis gyrata is suggested for the primary CVG, which is the most common scalp disorder in such a population.