Skull Indentations...Normal?

[byrd262, BSN, RN]

I volunteer at a local clinic that is managed by NPs. It allows me to practice taking vitals and assessments before the NP comes in to examine the patient. The oddest thing occurred. I was assessing a patient and there were indentations in her skull. I was palpating her scalp and felt a few dents. One was about 5 cm in length and 1 cm wide. It was deep too. There were 2 other dents that I felt. I asked her if she knew about them and if she was born with them. She said that she wasn't born with them, but noticed them about 3 months ago when washing her hair. She is 24 years old and has never been involved in a trauma of any kind.

I reported it to the NP who didn't know what it was, but referred the patient. Has anyone seen/felt that before? I've seen men with shaved heads before that have abnormalities. But this was so much different. I couldn't see it because she had a lot of hair but it felt like a newborn's fontanels (but longer). This is still bothering me. Any ideas?

[november17, ASN, RN]

My wife is a massage therapist and she mentioned that it could have something to do with muscle tension. Without palpating it myself I don't know.

[mshultz]

My skull has lumps and dents. No history of head trauma. Luckily for me, I have a full head of hair.

[RhiaRN75, RN]

My son and husband both have ridges along the suture lines.

I have two dents exactly as you describe- on either side of my head above my ears. Those are from wearing glasses. It just happened over time. I know I don't have soft bones, as clumsy as I am I'd break a bone once a week if I did.

[byrd262, BSN, RN]

RhiaRN75 said:

My son and husband both have ridges along the suture lines.

I have two dents exactly as you describe- on either side of my head above my ears. Those are from wearing glasses. It just happened over time. I know I don't have soft bones, as clumsy as I am I'd break a bone once a week if I did.

Thanks for your reply. The indentations were on top of her head though not the sides.

[Ali2775]

Hi I have indentations in my skull. English is not my first language, so I hope I can write properly the things I want to say. I am 36. I noticed them a few days ago. I was terrified, I thought my head was opening haha! So I asked to my father who is a surgeon. He told me that he has indentations too. And so his mother. It's weird. And they never felt nothing, no migraine, nothing. He doesn't know about the name of this condition, but it's real and it's not dangerous.

[CmittelsRN]

I had hyperparathyroid and hypercalcemia a few years ago. I had a huge debt along the suture lines at the back of the skull where all three bones meet. It was the finger widths wide by 3" + long. Ended up with 2 parayhyoid adenomas and right thyroid removed and severe osteoporosis.  Calcium levels are to low now but the indent is starting to get smaller. Hope this helps