Turkish Neurosurgery
Development of a giant cornu cutaneum in a patient with a coincidental foreknown intracranial meningioma
Asım Uslu2, Cezmi Çağrı Türk1, Ali Bacanlı3, Sevim Yıldız4, Ramazan Uyar1, Tolga Gediz1, Abdullah Konak1
1Ministry of Health, Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Neurosurgery, Antalya,
2Ministry of Health, Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Antalya,
3Ministry of Health, Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Dermatology and Venereology , Antalya,
4Ministry of Health, Antalya Education and Research Hospital, Radiology, Antalya,
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.22091-17.1

The diagnostic spectrum for scalp lesions is extensive and comprises either benign or malignant features. Cornu cutaneum (CC) is a well-recognized condition; however, its origin and natural course are not always obvious. We present the case of a 78-year-old patient who was diagnosed with intracranial meningioma in 2014 and who subsequently refused treatment. He presented a new scalp lesion, resembling a horn, in the vertex region 1.5 years after his last follow-up. The lesion was excised, and the patient was histopathologically diagnosed as having CC caused by squamous cell carcinoma. CC can be easily recognized when it resembles animal horn; however, it can assume different shapes that require a physician to be vigilant. Moreover, a lesion’s benign or malignant nature is not obvious in all cases. Hard, protruding scalp lesions should be examined for CC, and a histopathological evaluation should be performed to make a definitive diagnosis.

Corresponding author : Asım Uslu