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 w ho 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 siz e. A mass was found to be situated just below the galea and was successfull y removed surgically using a high forehead lift. Histologically, the specim en contained predominantly mast cells. A systemic mastocytosis was excluded by a multidisciplinary diagnostic approach and measurement of the 24-h uri nary excretion of histamine metabolites. After 36 months of follow-up there has been no recurrence.