Primary intracranial malignant tumour mistaken for a postburn scalp Marjolin's ulcer

This report presents an apparent squamous cell carcinoma over a burn scar in the scalp (Marjolin's ulcer) that was resected and soft tissue expanders inserted in the hair-bearing scalp. In the postoperative period the patient developed neurological impairment with a CT scan showing a parasagittal brain tumour infiltrating the skin. The tumour was resected and the resultant skin and cranial defect were covered with an expanded scalp flap. Histological examination showed malignant angioblastic meningioma. The tumour recurred aggressively, leading to the death of the patient. The case is considered very unusual, as a brain tumour does not seem to be a reasonable suspect in the differential diagnosis of a chronic ulcer over a burn-induced scalp scar.