Neuroglial heterotopia of the scalp

Heterotopic glial nodules of the scalp are non hereditary congenital malformations composed of mature brain tissue isolated from the cranial cavity. The majority of these lesions are found in the nasal region and occur rarely on the scalp. They are frequently diagnosed in newborn infants. However, they may rarely be found in adults. The pathogenesis of these lesions remains unknown. We describe the case of a temporal scalp nodule in a 50 year-old man. At the time of the excision, the mass was not associated with intracranial connection. Histological examination revealed neural tissue staining with S100-protein and the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).