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Lipedematous scalp in a child
Darion M Rowan1, Alan Simpson, Kwong P Wong
1Department of Dermatology, Middlemore Hospital, Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand. drowan@ihug.co.nz
Pediatric Dermatology
|June 20, 2006
Summary
Lipedematous scalp, a rare condition typically seen in adult women, was diagnosed in a pediatric patient. This case highlights the importance of considering this diagnosis in children presenting with scalp abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Pathology
Background:
- Lipedematous scalp is a rare condition characterized by benign lipomatous hypertrophy of the subcutaneous scalp tissue.
- It is predominantly reported in adult women and often associated with alopecia, though the exact etiology remains unclear.
Observation:
- A nine-year-old Maori girl presented with a progressively enlarging, spongy consistency of her posterior scalp over one year.
- Clinical examination revealed normal overlying skin and hair growth, with no signs of inflammation or infection.
Findings:
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan demonstrated diffuse thickening of the subcutaneous tissues on the posterior scalp.
- A skin biopsy confirmed a normal epidermis with a significantly thickened layer of mature subcutaneous fat and disrupted subcutaneous architecture.
Implications:
- This case represents the first reported instance of lipedematous scalp in the pediatric literature.
- It expands the known demographic for this condition and suggests that pediatricians and dermatologists should consider lipedematous scalp in the differential diagnosis of pediatric scalp masses or thickening.