Atypical subgaleal haemangioma causing calvarial erosion: a case report

Childs Nerv Syst. 2016 Dec;32(12):2475-2478. doi: 10.1007/s00381-016-3081-7. Epub 2016 Apr 14.

Abstract

Background: Infantile haemangiomas are the most common soft tissue tumours of infancy and childhood, with an incidence rate of 4-10 %. These lesions commonly present between 2 and 10 weeks after birth and characteristically involute around 8-10 years of age. Most lesions occurring in the scalp are managed conservatively, with surgery reserved for those with complications.

Case description: A 5-year-old girl presented with a swelling over the left occiput noticed since birth, with a gradual increase in size and rapid progression since the last 1 year. She had undergone six sessions of intralesional steroids over the past 3 years. However, recent MRI and CT scans showed an increase in the swelling size with full-thickness erosion of the underlying calvarium without neuroparenchymal involvement. The patient underwent surgical excision of the lesion with an excellent outcome. Our literature review revealed only a single case of haemangioma which arose from the scalp and caused significant underlying calvarial erosion and intracranial extension.

Conclusion: We present a case of an atypical infantile haemangioma arising in the subgaleal plane causing full-thickness erosion of the underlying calvarium.

Keywords: Calvarial erosion; Infantile haemangioma; Scalp haemangioma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / complications
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / congenital
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Hemangioma / complications
  • Hemangioma / congenital
  • Hemangioma / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Scalp / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / complications
  • Skin Neoplasms / congenital
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Skull / pathology*