Hi Doc,
I have had this lump on my forehead for a while now and I guess now its starting to get noticed. I have done extensive research to figure out what I might have and have come up with “Craniopharyngioma”. Sympotms include: Blurry vision, Sharp pains accompanied with headache. The funny thing is I work in a hospital and could probably just stop a doctor in the hall to have him feel it but I would feel better getting an MRI doneregrardless. Besides, my insurance does not kick in for another 60 days. Im 27 years old, smoke about 1/2 pack a day, drink on occasion (but only beer), and do have tons of stress in my life with twins, and a mother living with me. Do you have any pictures you could send me of what you
might think it is? Let me know if there is any other info you need from me. thanks for your help

?

Dr. Joshua’s Answer:

Craniopharyngeoma does not present as a lump on the forehead. A lump on the forehead could be a lipoma (benign fat tissue lump), an osteoma (benign bone tumor). Osteoma can be painful. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is especially effective in osteoma pain. Rarely, a noticeable lump could be caused by a meningioma (benign tumor of the membranes surrounding the brain). All of the above can be cured. Of course, the lump can be some other tumor, I’ve just mentioned some possibilities. Often a lump is just a normal structure, which for some reason you all of a sudden notice, it’s been there always, but when you have headaches and stress, you just start to pay attention to it when you never did before. If you’ve had it a long time, whatever it is, it’s probably benign (not cancer, and curable). I don’t know where exactly the lump is, but if it is close to the eye, it could conceivably be a part of something that causes blurry vision, but otherwise I’m tempted to dismiss the blurry vision as something not relevant here.?

I recommend you stop a doctor in the hall and have him take a look at it. If you can’t bring yourself to doing that, make an appointment once your insurance kicks in. Please bear in mind that I cannot diagnose your lump over the internet, and while I suspect it’s not cancerous, I cannot be 100% sure.