• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.63-66
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• 2011

Purpose: Cranial fasciitis is a rare type of benign tumor that occurs mostly in children younger than 6 years. It arises from the deep fascia, periosteum, or fibromembranous layer that covers fontanelles. The etiology is unknown, although prior trauma has been postulated to be an underlying cause. There is a 2:1 male predominance. Despite its rapid growth, this tumor has a benign clinical course and can be cured by total excision. Methods: A 16-year-old male presented with a 3 cm-sized palpable mass in the left lateral eyebrow region that he first noticed 4 months before presentation. The mass had grown rapidly since it was first noticed. Preoperative brain computed tomography showed a well-demarcated mass approximately 3 cm in size extending from the subcutaneous layer to the periosteum. Preoperatively, the presumed diagnosis was a dermoid cyst. An operation was performed with the patient under general anesthesia. The subcutaneous mass was completely excised by periosteal dissection. Results: Histological diagnosis revealed the presence of cranial fasciitis. After 20 months of follow-up, there have been neither complications nor evidence of local recurrence besed on clinical examination. Conclusion: Although cranial fasciitis is quite rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis for lytic skull lesions in patient whose clinical presentation suggests this possibility. This condition could be occasionally mistaken for malignant or locally aggressive lesions. To prevent local recurrence, curettage of the underlying bone is recommended for patients with bone involvement.