How Can I Reduce This Lump On The Top Of My Head?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Hello, as I am getting older my hair is thinning and my hairline is receding, and I am now noticing a strange and seemingly out of place shape on my head. It resembles the shape of a half egg and it is awkwardly planted in the center, just above my forehead. When I was younger, my mother may have noticed it, but she would never talk to me about it, so I presume its always been there. I’m hoping theres an answer to this, I feel self conscious over it.

Hello, I have a noticeable ‘bump’ in the center-front portion of my head. If you look at me from a profile angle, you may not notice it. If I look forward and straight ahead, it also might not be noticeable. But if I look up, then I have a bump the shape of a half-egg on tope of my head. I’m getting older and I no longer have as much hair as when I was young. It makes me self conscious and I’d like to look into possible solutions.

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. You are undoubtably referring to the raised midline prominence at the anterior end of the sagittal suture line. (which is also the original location of the anterior fontanelle) This raised bony prominence is probably a thickened area of bone which can be reduced by burring. BUT one should first check a CT scan to be sure that this is really a thickened area of bone rather than a thin area of bone with the underlying brain protruding into it. (unlikely but the time to make that discovery is before surgery not during it)

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana