Ectopic craniopharyngioma and Gardner's syndrome: Case report and literature review

• Published in: Neurocirugía (Asturias, Spain) Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 97 - 101
• Main Authors: Álvarez Salgado, Juan Antonio, González-Llanos Fernández de Mesa, Francisco, Villaseñor Ledezma, Jorge Javier, Cañizares Méndez, Maria de Los Angeles, Paredes Sansinenea, Igor, Rodríguez de Lope-Llorca, Angel, Mollejo Villanueva, Manuela
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.03.2017
• Subjects: Ectopic craniopharyngioma; Familial adenomatous polyposis; Fourth ventricle craniopharyngioma; Gardner's syndrome; Craneofaringioma ectópico; Craneofaringioma de cuarto ventrículo; Poliposis adenomatosa familiar; Síndrome de Gardner
• ISSN: 1130-1473
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neucir.2016.09.001

Craniopharyngioma accounts for around 3% of all primary tumours of the central nervous system. It is usually located in the suprasellar region, although it may also have an ectopic location. The case is presented on 29 year-old male who underwent surgery for a jaw osteoma when he was 19 years old and was subsequently diagnosed with Gardner's syndrome. He was admitted in our Hospital with right facial paresis and diplopia of one day onset. The examination showed mild right VII and VI cranial nerves paresis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated a rounded solid and cystic lesion with well-defined contours of about 2cm in diameter filling the fourth ventricle. The patient underwent a posterior fossa craniotomy using a telovelar approach with complete removal of the tumour implanted at roof level of the fourth ventricle. The final histology of the tumour was reported as adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma. Craniopharyngioma may appear in another location other than the suprasellar region. Its atypical location may be related to Gardner syndrome by still unknown pathogenic mechanisms.