Aplasia cutis congenita: Evaluation of signs suggesting extracutaneous involvement

Abstract

Specific clinical features of aplasia cutis congenita may indicate the presence of underlying cranial or cerebrovascular defects, allowing for early recognition and intervention. Most information about aplasia cutis congenita exists as individual case reports, with few large-scale studies. We conducted a 7-year retrospective chart review of 90 cases of aplasia cutis congenita and identified clinical characteristics including morphology, number of lesions, anatomic location, presence of hair collar sign, associated cutaneous features, histology, and imaging results. The anatomic location of the lesion (vertex, midline) (P = .01), presence of hair collar sign (P < .001), vascular stains (P < .001), and nodules (P = .007) were found to be strong clinical indicators of skull or cerebrovascular involvement.