Cerebellopontine angle craniopharyngioma

Abstract

A rare case of craniopharyngioma presenting as a primary cerebellopontine angle tumour is reported. Unlike normal craniopharyngiomas, preoperative diagnosis is often difficult. Radical removal of a completely cystic tumour is carried out through an unilateral suboccipital exposure. The diagnostic and surgical implications are discussed in the light of few similar cases reported in the literature.

Primary cerebellopontine angle craniopharyngioma in a patient with Gardner syndrome

“…5 Primary CPA craniopharyngioma without extension into the sellar region is rare. [1][2][3][4] Four patients with primary CPA craniopharyngioma have been reported (Supplementary Table 1). Gökalp and Mertol reported a patient with CPA craniopharyngioma.…”

“…1 Craniopharyngioma primarily occurring in the CPA is rare (Supplementary Table 1). [1][2][3][4] We report a patient with craniopharyngioma arising primarily from the CPA detected by cranial MRI during investigation of multiple scalp fibromas. Osteomas of the cranium and face were detected 2 years later, and colonic adenomatous polyposis, 4 years later.…”

Cerebellopontine Angle Craniopharyngioma: Case Report and Literature Review

“…Altinörs et al [9] had previously described postoperative diabetes insipidus as a complication from retraction of the pituitary stalk during resection of a cerebellopontine angle craniopharyngioma that retained connection to a suprasellar origin. As the patient did not suffer from postoperative diabetes insipitus, Gökalp and Mertol [5] concluded that the tumor in their patient arose primarily in the cerebellopontine angle.…”

“…Gökalp and Mertol [5] described their experience with a 17-year-old girl who presented with headache, left-sided hearing loss and ataxia. CT scan revealed hydrocephalus and a cystic mass in the left cerebellopontine angle, histologic examination after resection showed adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma.…”

“…Large craniopharyngiomas may extend into the sphenoid sinus and nasopharynx anteriorly and, rarely (4–5.9%), along the clivus [3] and into the cerebellopontine angle [4] posteriorly. Craniopharyngiomas have rarely been described as arising primarily in the cerebellopontine angle [5, 6] or pineal region [7]. Craniopharyngiomas have a bimodal age distribution with one peak in childhood (5–15 years) and the second in adults (>60 years) [8].…”