title: Lipedematous scalp in a child.
abstract: A nine year old Maori girl was noted to have a spongy consistency to her posterior scalp. The overlying skin appeared normal, as was hair growth in that area. The abnormal findings became more extensive over the subsequent year. A computerized tomography scan showed diffuse thickening of subcutaneous tissues posteriorly on the scalp. A skin biopsy specimen showed a normal epidermis with a thick layer of mature subcutaneous fat and some disruption of the subcutaneous architecture. The clinical features and investigations were consistent with a diagnosis of lipedematous scalp, which has been described predominantly in adult women and is usually associated with alopecia. This condition has not been reported previously in the pediatric literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Middlemore Hospital, Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand. drowan@ihug.co.nz
authors.forename: Darion M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Rowan
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Kwong P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology; D012536:Scalp Dermatoses / Q000473:pathology*