Sequestrated meningocele of the scalp: diagnostic value of hair anomalies

Abstract

Clinical aspects of sequestrated meningocele can be varied, causing difficulties in histopathological diagnosis. The meningeal tissue is scanty and appears as nonspecific connective tissue, therefore it may be overlooked. One classical and two unusual clinical presentations of sequestrated meningocele are described: one of the latter presenting as two atrophic midline bald patches, and the other as a tiny occipital midline hair tuft. In the unusual cases, the pathologic diagnosis was made possible only with the combination of clinical, histologic, and immunohistochemical studies. Sequestrated meningocele should be included in the differential diagnosis whenever hair abnormalities are observed in neonates and young children. We believe that there is a causal relationship between anomalies of the central nervous system and the cutaneous adnexal malformations.