Related Experiment Videos
Scalp tumours mimicking encephaloceles
1Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital.
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|July 1, 1991
Summary
Two neonates had benign scalp tumors that looked like encephaloceles. Ultrasonography confirmed the tumor was outside the skull in the recent case, aiding diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal medicine
- Pediatric surgery
- Medical imaging
Background:
- Encephaloceles are congenital disabilities where the brain protrudes through skull openings.
- Benign scalp tumors in neonates can sometimes resemble encephaloceles, posing diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- Two neonates presented with scalp masses clinically suggestive of encephalocele.
- The masses were initially indistinguishable from encephaloceles based on physical examination alone.
Findings:
- Ultrasonography in the more recent case definitively identified the scalp mass as extracranial.
- This finding differentiated the benign tumor from an encephalocele, which is intracranial.
Implications:
- Ultrasonography is a valuable, non-invasive tool for differentiating neonatal scalp masses.
- Accurate diagnosis prevents unnecessary surgical intervention for conditions mimicking encephalocele.