Endoscopic excision of benign forehead masses: a novel approach for pediatric general surgeons.
OBJECTIVE
Benign tumors of the brow and forehead are commonly managed by pediatric general surgeons by excision through an overlying incision. Cosmetic results in children can be suboptimal. Plastic surgeons have used endoscopic brow-lift techniques for the removal of these lesions. We review our experience after adopting this endoscopic technique in a pediatric general surgery practice.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective chart review of 9 consecutive outpatient procedures (5 girls and 4 boys; age range, 5 months to 12 years) between March and October 2005. Seven patients had lesions located on the lateral brow (left, n = 4; right, n = 3), 1 patient had a lesion on the left mid forehead, and 1 patient had a nasoglabellar cyst. All procedures were performed using endoscopic brow-lift equipment through a single small scalp incision 2 cm posterior to the hairline. Outcome measures included need for conversion, operative time, cosmetic outcome, and complications.


RESULTS
All lesions (6 dermoid cysts and 3 pilomatrixomas) were successfully excised endoscopically. The mean operative time was 56 minutes (range, 22-90 minutes). There was no intraoperative or postoperative complication. All families were pleased with the cosmetic outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
This case report shows that endoscopic excision of forehead masses is a safe and efficacious procedure in the hands of pediatric general surgeons.
Dutta
Sanjeev
S
Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA 94305-5733, USA. sduttal@stanford.edu <sduttal@stanford.edu>
Lorenz
H Peter
HP
Albanese
Craig T
CT
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003884:Dermoid Cyst / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D005546:Forehead / Q000601:surgery*; D006201:Hair Diseases; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D018296:Pilomatrixoma / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome