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Skull fracture mimicking eosinophilic granuloma
Todd Hollon1, Paul E McKeever, Hugh J L Garton
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Room 3552 Taubman Center, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5338, USA.
Background:
Delayed swelling after skull fractures is an uncommon complication following head trauma in children. Classically, growing skull fractures typically present in patients under 3 years of age with progressive subcutaneous fluid collections, or occasionally with neurologic symptoms. We present the case of a healthy 2-year-old boy with a lytic "punched-out" frontal skull lesion. The child presented 2 months after a minor forehead injury for which no medical attention was sought.
Methods:
The skull defect had no associated leptomeningeal cyst or brain herniation. Imaging and presentation were thought to be consistent with eosinophilic granuloma. Histologic findings demonstrated a healing skull fracture.
Results:
Cranioplasty was performed, and the patient had an uncomplicated postoperative course.
Conclusions:
In this report, we describe our experience with this atypical presentation of a healing skull fracture mimicking a typical eosinophilic granuloma.
