Should I Have My Skull Osteoma Burred Or Excised?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a swelling on my right side of the head, and I noticed it 8-9 months ago. Yesterday I was in the hospital took computer tomography, and it showed that I have osteoma on my skull. So, mine is on my skull, but the pics shows that it can be insight the skull too  (not sure though). So, I talk to the doctor, and he says it should be removed. He suggested surgery as it can grow. What I don’t like doctor says they gonna remove first two layers of the skull. My bump is 3.5 x 3.5cm in diameters and 1.5cms in height.  So, doctor says he will remove 5×5 in diameters, and two layers of the skull, and then to fill in the hollow created due to the clearing away of the extra growth by cement. These all horrifies me. The thing is I don’t have any symptoms, I mean I never had head injury, don’t have head aches, nothing. So, can you please advise how you do this kind of surgery and how much it will cost me with you. If you need I can send my CT. Thank you in advance

A: Thank you for your inquiry. The question is whether your osteoma should be burred down or excised and replaced by bone cement. (as you your surgeon has suggested) Admittedly if I was a patient I would be a lot more interested in the burring approach, particularly for an asymptomatic osteoma. Please send me some pictures of your head showing that area and the CT scan for my assessment. Then I can give you a more fully informed opinion. But if the osteoma has no intracranial expansion, I would choose the burring reduction skull reshaping approach.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana