Big Bump Appeared On Head After Head Injury. Could It Be A Brain Tumour?

Posted on Mon, 22 Oct 2012

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 Answered on

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi i have a daughter who is 15 years old. Several years ago in her younger days she had a bump on the head which resulted in a lump developing, she did not experience any side effects and was perfectly ok. Since then she has had another bump on the head (a year or two ago) in the same place as the last one but again nothing serious no concussion or anything, just usual kid like accidents which is part of growing up! Now she is 15 she has a lump about the size of a golf ball(only noticable to feel as her hair covers it) which is causing her anxiety as she thinks it is serious and a brain tumour. She experiences know pain from it and does not have any secondry lumps or mumps anywhere, should we be concerned? Regards XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. G.Srinivasan (2 hours later)

Hi,

Welcome to XXXXXXX
First i would like to assure you that it is extremely unlikely to be a cancer-
a. as cancers occurring in the brain do not project outside - due to the hard skull bone and
b. malignant bone tumors of the skull bone are very rare.

It is probably a scalp lesion.

Probabilities are---

1. Dermoid cysts.
2. Sebaceous cysts ( epidermoid cysts)
3. Other rare causes like infected follicle etc- in which case there will be pain and fever.

The first two are the most common based on your description.
Dermoid cyts occur in the midline usually and sebaceous cysts can occur anywhere.
The most important thing here is to get a radiograph or a CT done - after physical examination to check for extension inside the bone, which your doc will be aware of.
Pls. get medical advice for re- assurance.

Regards
DR GS

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar