"Prune head" / Brainy scalp

A man with a rare condition made the clinicians in Brazil scratch their heads after the skin on his scalp began to loosen and form the shape of a brain.

His ailment has been identified as Cutis Verticis Gyrata,  and is a benign and essentially aesthetic condition. The soft folds that can count up to ten, typically affect the central and back regions of the head, but sometimes cover the entire scalp.

The cause of the deformation remains a mystery in most cases. The condition is then classified as “primary CVG”. While it can be present on its own, the condition is often associated with other abnormalities, such as mental deficiency, epilepsy, schizophrenia, seizures, deafness and blindness.

This patient has no symptoms of psychiatric or neurological disorders, but is intellectually impaired.

“Secondary CVG” is caused by a disease, unbalanced hormones or drugs that lead to changes in scalp structure. For example acromegaly, a syndrome that results when the anterior pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone.

Cutis verticis gyrata occurs more in men than women (6:1), and typically develops between the age of 15 and 30. But it can also be present from birth.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for the rare condition. Only cosmetic surgery can improve the appearance of the scalp. Because the condition did not bother him cosmetically, the Brazilian patient decided not leave its remarkable condition the way it is.