A solitary manifestation of mastocytosis in the head and neck

Solitary mastocytosis in adulthood is a rare finding. Only two such lesions have been reported in the head and neck. We describe a 27-year-old woman who had a 10-year history of a forehead swelling that had fluctuated in size. Light trauma or pressure on the lesion resulted in an increase in its size. A mass was found to be situated just below the galea and was successfully removed surgically using a high forehead lift. Histologically, the specimen contained predominantly mast cells. A systemic mastocytosis was excluded by a multidisciplinary diagnostic approach and measurement of the 24-h urinary excretion of histamine metabolites. After 36 months of follow-up there has been no recurrence. Received: 20 May 1999 / Accepted: 15 July 1999