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Frontal bossing

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Illustrations

Frontal bossing
Frontal bossing

Definition    Return to top

Frontal bossing is an unusually prominent forehead, sometimes associated with a heavier than normal brow ridge.

Considerations    Return to top

Frontal bossing is seen only in a few rare syndromes, including acromegaly, a chronic disorder caused by too much growth hormone, which leads to enlargement of the bones of the face, jaw, hands, feet, and skull.

Causes    Return to top

Home Care    Return to top

There is no home care needed for frontal bossing. Home care for disorders associated with frontal bossing varies with the specific disorder.

When to Contact a Medical Professional    Return to top

If you notice that your child's forehead looks unusually prominent, talk to your health care provider.

What to Expect at Your Office Visit    Return to top

An infant or child with frontal bossing generally has other symptoms and signs that, when taken together, define a specific syndrome or condition. The diagnosis is based on a family history, medical history, and thorough physical evaluation.

Medical history questions documenting frontal bossing in detail may include:

Laboratory studies may be ordered to confirm the presence of a suspected disorder.

Update Date: 11/14/2007

Updated by: Deirdre O’Reilly, M.D., M.P.H., Neonatologist, Division of Newborn Medicine, Children’s Hospital Boston and Instructor in Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

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