Cranial fasciitis of childhood.

Abstract

Cranial fasciitis of childhood is a benign lesion occurring superficial to or involving the cranial bones of children at a median age of 18 months, with a male sex predilection of 2:1. It is histologically described as a well-circumscribed, loose proliferation of stellate to spindle-shaped fibroblasts in a myxoid background with foci of hemorrhage and hyalinization. Mitotic figures, increased cellularity, and cellular immaturity may be seen. The treatment of choice is excisional biopsy, since the lesion is not known to recur. It is important that the pathologist and surgeon alike be able to differentiate this benign condition from other lesions because of the clinically threatening presentation of cranial fasciitis.