Histopathological Spectrum of Non Traumatic Scalp Swellings in a Tertiary Teaching Hospital of Western Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Introduction: Scalp is a region where pilosebaceous follicles are present in high density and a wide histopathological spectrum can be seen. Aetiology of a scalp swelling may be traumatic, inflammatory, allergic, infective or neoplastic. Malignant tumours are not uncommon in this region and the literature available is also limited. This makes the scalp an interesting site for study. Aim: The present study was to highlight the histopathological spectrum of non traumatic scalp swellings. Materials and Methods: The present study was a 10 year hospital-based observational ambispective study from February 2010 to January 2020, done in the department of Pathology in a tertiary teaching hospital in Western Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 144 non traumatic scalp swellings were studied and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 19 software. Results: A total of 144 cases were studied. Male to female ratio was 1.4:1. Mean age was 40.94 years. Benign cases were 139 and five cases were malignant. Keratinous cyst was the common diagnosis (n=52), followed by lipoma (n=24). Most common malignant lesion was basal cell carcinoma (n=3), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (n=2). Conclusion: Scalp swellings vary from keratinous cysts to malignancies. The study of scalp swellings is a must so that a variety of histopathological manifestations can be widely understood and interdisciplinary approach can be implemented in the diagnosis and management.