A case of cranial fasciitis masquerading as acute mastoiditis.

OBJECTIVE

We report a case of infection against a background of pre-existing cranial fasciitis.

METHOD: Case report and review of world literature on cranial fasciitis.

RESULTS

Cranial fasciitis of childhood is a benign condition and a rare variant of nodular fasciitis. We present the case of a 10-week-old infant with symptoms and signs consistent with a subperiosteal abscess complicating acute mastoiditis. Subsequent findings showed this to be an infection against a background of pre-existing cranial fasciitis.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first such reported case in the literature. Knowledge of the distinctive histopathological features, coupled with an awareness of the condition, are crucial to establishing a definitive diagnosis of cranial fasciitis and, in turn, to instituting appropriate management. The aetiopathogenesis of the condition remains unclear.