Clinicopathologic features of forehead prayer marks in Kano, Northwest Nigeria

Abstract Prayer marks are asymptomatic nodular and cyst like swellings or callosities with or without chronic skin changes attributable to repeated, prolonged pressure and friction exerted on bony prominences when praying on hard surfaces. This study aimed to describe the clinical and pathological features of forehead prayer marks in Kano, Northwest Nigeria. A retrospective review of Muslims with regular praying habits who presented to the maxillofacial surgery clinic of Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano within a five year (January 2014-December 2018) period on account of central forehead nodular prayer marks was conducted. Biographic data, duration, size, consistency and histological diagnoses of forehead prayer marks were retrieved and analysed. Of the 26 patients with forehead prayer marks, there were 19 men (M: F = 2.7:1). The mean age was 42 ± 3 years and there ages ranged from 15 to 62 years. The mean duration and size of the swellings were 1 ± 5.4 years and 2.5 ± 3.1cm respectively. The consistency of the lesions was mostly soft to firm (n= 23). Seventeen of the lesions were histologically diagnosed as lipoma. Others were fibroma, soft tissue cysts, eosinophilic granuloma and osteoma. Forehead prayer marks are more common in men than women with highest occurrence in fifth decade of life. Lipoma was the commonest post-excision histological diagnosis of forehead prayer marks.