title: Skull fracture mimicking eosinophilic granuloma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Delayed swelling after skull fractures is an uncommon complication following head trauma in children. Classically, growing skull fractures typically present in patients under 3 years of age with progressive subcutaneous fluid collections, or occasionally with neurologic symptoms. We present the case of a healthy 2-year-old boy with a lytic "punched-out" frontal skull lesion. The child presented 2 months after a minor forehead injury for which no medical attention was sought.
  
  
  METHODS
  The skull defect had no associated leptomeningeal cyst or brain herniation. Imaging and presentation were thought to be consistent with eosinophilic granuloma. Histologic findings demonstrated a healing skull fracture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cranioplasty was performed, and the patient had an uncomplicated postoperative course.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this report, we describe our experience with this atypical presentation of a healing skull fracture mimicking a typical eosinophilic granuloma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Room 3552 Taubman Center, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5338, USA.
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hollon
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: McKeever
authors.forename: Hugh J L
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Garton
authors.forename: Cormac O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Maher
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003399:Craniotomy; D004803:Eosinophilic Granuloma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed