Intracranial invasion of a basal cell carcinoma of the scalp.

OBJECTIVE AND

IMPORTANCE

Basal cell carcinomas are common lesions that can have a locally invasive behavior. The authors present a case of a scalp lesion with skull and dura-mater invasion that was unrecognized prior to surgical undertaking.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 66-year-old female presented with an extensive ulcerating lesion on the frontal scalp, deemed to be a basal cell carcinoma. The plastic surgery team brought her to the operating room for resection but subsequently backed off after the discovery of bony invasion. Imaging revealed extensive bony and epidural extension.

INTERVENTION: Resection of the invaded frontal scalp, bone, dura-mater and proximal part of the superior sagittal sinus was performed. This was followed by a reconstructive procedure consisting of a duraplasty, a cranioplasty, and a skin rotation flap and partial-thickness skin grafting.

CONCLUSION

Radiological evaluation of scalp basal cell carcinomas should be done prior to surgery to rule out any bony or intracranial invasion.