Intracranial chondroma in a patient with Ollier's disease. Case report

Giant Intracranial Chondroma

Intracranial chondroma is extremely rare. The treatment of choice is total tumor excision when resectable. A 30-year-old female patient presented with a giant intracranial chondroma that had enlarged for 18 years. In this case, we totally removed the tumor and reconstructed the meninges, cranium, and left ear using fascia lata, a combination of titan mesh and cement, and the posterior auricular artery axial flap, respectively. The aesthetic outcome was acceptable. No recurrence was identified after 7 months of follow-up. The patient was satisfied with the outcome. The lack of access to high-tech tools, such as 3-dimensional simulation, makes preoperative planning more difficult. Total tumor removal is currently the treatment of choice when the mass is resectable. It is a safe surgery, and with proper reconstruction procedures, an acceptable appearance can be achieved. Further multicenter studies with a greater sample size are needed to make a systematic treatment approach for intracranial chondroma.

Surgical Strategies and Outcomes for Intracranial Chondromas: A Retrospective Study of 17 Cases and Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To improve the diagnosis and treatment of intracranial chondromas (ICDs) by discussing the clinical manifestations and imaging characteristics of ICDs, as well as surgical methods and treatment strategies.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 17 patients diagnosed with ICDs who underwent microsurgery or endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery at the Tangdu Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University and the Mianyang Central Hospital from January 2010 to November 2021. Clinical manifestations, imaging examinations, surgical treatments, and prognosis of these patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

ICDs had often been misdiagnosed as craniopharyngioma, chordoma, schwannoma, cavernous hemangioma, pituitary adenoma, and meningioma before surgery. Of the 17 cases, gross total resection (GTR) was performed in 10 cases, subtotal resection (STR) in 5, and partial resection in 2. GTR of tumor was achieved in eight cases via the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach (EETA) or the extended endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach (EEETA), and the remaining patients underwent craniotomies. Clinical symptoms were assessed 1 week after surgery, 10 cases were relieved at varying degrees, and four cases had no improvement. Postoperative complications included right-limb hemiparesis, diplopia, eyelid ptosis, pulmonary infection, subcutaneous hydrops, cerebrospinal-fluid leakage (CSFL), and intracranial infection (ICI). One patient received gamma knife treatment at 3 months after surgery, two patients died due to tumor progression, and the remaining patients had no tumor recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

ICDs lack typical imaging features and are often misdiagnosed. The EETA or EEETA helps improve the surgical outcomes and GTR rates of ICDs at different sites.

Falcine chondroma: illustrative case

BACKGROUND

Chondromas are benign cartilaginous tumors that are rarely seen in the brain.

OBSERVATIONS

A 58-year-old woman had undergone routine brain imaging after a motor vehicle accident and was incidentally found to have a right falcine lesion. Contrast magnetic resonance imaging showed a mostly nonenhancing mass with discontinuous rim enhancement. She was taken to the operating room and pathology revealed a chondroma.

LESSONS

Falcine intracranial chondromas are rare and typically misdiagnosed as meningiomas. Chondromas should be in the differential for patients presenting with nonenhancing falcine lesions.

Clinical and Radiologic Characteristics, Surgical Outcomes, and Its Possible Origins of Chondroma of the Dural Convexity

Chondroma of the dural convexity (CDC) is a benign and extremely rare type of intracranial chondroma. In this study, we reported five CDCs in a single center and reviewed the available literature to determine the clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes and possible origins of the disease. The clinical data of five patients (4 females) who confirmed to be CDC between 2000 and 2019 in our single center was collected together with 22 cases from literatures. The clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes were reviewed and analyzed. Among all the available CDC cases, the mean age was 31 ± 13.7 years; the mean tumor volume was 42.3 ± 40.9 cm³, showing a female predominance (63% vs. 37%). The tumors showed calcification in 88.2% cases (15/17) on CT scans and hypointense on T1WI (15/19, 78.9%), mixed intense on T2WI (10/18, 55.6%), and inhomogeneous enhancement without dural tail sign after administration of gadolinium (20/21, 95.2%). Almost all the tumors were misdiagnosed as meningiomas preoperatively. In addition, almost all image available CDC lesions (24/25, 96%) located across the cranial sutures indicating that the tumor originated from ectopic chondrocytes from adjacent skull sutures. No tumors recurred after total resection in follow-up. CDCs are characterized with female predominance and may originate from ectopic chondrocytes from adjacent skull sutures. The lesion with inhomogeneous contrast enhancement without dural tail sign and avascular in cerebral angiography are key points to be differentiated from meningioma. The most effective treatment is total resection.

Chondroma of the falx cerebri: A case report and review of literature

Chondroma is a benign cartilage-forming tumor which usually occurs in small bones of extremities but occasionally occurs in the brain. Usually, intracranial chondromas originate from skull base; however, chondroma of the falx cerebri is a very rare condition. We here report a rare case of falcine chondroma in a 19-year-old man who had normal physical examination without signs of any syndromic disorder. The neuroimaging findings were inconclusive, and the diagnosis was based on histopathological examination. The purpose of this paper is to raise attention about intracranial chondromas and suggest that chondroma must be ruled out in any patient presenting with masses arising from the falx.

Chondroma of the Falx Cerebri with Central Cystic Degeneration and Hemorrhage: A Case Report

Patient: Male, 44

Final Diagnosis: Falx cerberi chondroma

Symptoms: Headache

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: Resection of the tumor

Specialty: Neurosurgery

Intracranial dural based chondroma

Intracranial chondromas are benign, slow-growing, cartilaginous tumors, which comprise only about 0.2% of all intracranial tumors. The majority of these lesions occur at the base of the skull, where they are thought to arise from residual embryonic chondrogenic cells along the basal synchondrosis. Very rarely, they may also originate from the convexity dura, falx cerebri, or the brain parenchyma. We present a patient with a dural based chondroma to highlight the technical considerations of surgical resection. The recent literature on intracranial chondromas regarding incidence, pathophysiologic origin, clinical symptoms, imaging, histopathology and prognosis is reviewed.

Diagnosis and microsurgical treatment of chondromas and chondrosarcomas of the cranial base

Chondromas and chondrosarcomas of the cranial base are rare neoplastic diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnosis and microsurgical treatment of these difficult cranial base tumors. A total of 19 patients who underwent microsurgery were pathologically diagnosed with cranial base chondromas or chondrosarcomas and their clinical data was reviewed. The chondromas and chondrosarcomas of the cranial base in the present study commonly originated in the sphenopetrosal, sphenoclival or petroclival junctions, and the majority were located in the parasellar region of the middle cranial base extradurally. The most frequent symptoms were headaches and cranial nerve palsy, and the Karnofsky performance score (KPS), assessed pre-operatively, averaged at 87.1. A frontotemporal or preauricular subtemporal-infratemporal approach was used in 11 cases, a tempo-occipital transtentorial or presigmoid supratentorial-infratentorial approach was employed in six further cases, and the far-lateral or retrosigmoid approach was applied in the remaining two cases. A total or near-total tumor removal was secured in 13 cases, while a subtotal removal was obtained in another five and a partial removal was achieved in one case. The most common post-operative complications included cranial nerve palsy and cerebrospinal fluid leakage, but there were no post-operative fatalities. A total of 15 patients were followed up for a mean of 67.2 months (range, 5–140 months), and 13 (76.5%) of these patients were living normal lives (KPS, 80–90). There were two patients with recurrent tumors. The neuroradiological examinations and the presenting symptoms and signs allow the pre-operative diagnosis to be presumed for the majority of cranial base chondromas or chondrosarcomas. Surgical resection is the key treatment for these tumors, and this treatment is known to improve the survival rates.

Giant Chondroma of the Saddle Area: Case Report and Literature Review

A 63-year-old man presented with sexual dysfunction of 6-year duration, 5-year history of bilateral vision loss, and left nasal obstruction for 3 years. Brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a large mass lesion in the saddle area and extending upward to the dorsum sellae, bilateral cavernous sinus, and suprasellar region, and down into the sphenoid sinus and nasal cavity; the optic nerves and optic chiasm were elevated upward and compressed. Endocrine tests indicated that all serum level of anterior pituitary hormones decreased. The preoperative diagnosis included invasive pituitary adenoma, chordoma, osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and craniopharyngioma. The tumour was subtotally removed through transsphenoidal approach. Histopathology examination revealed a chondroma. Postoperatively, the patient was stable and his visual acuity and visual field defect improved and his pituitary function return to normal except for hypothyroidism.

Intracranial cystic chondroma: a case report

INTRODUCTION

Intracranial chondromas are rare benign tumors with an incidence of 0.2% to 0.3% of all intracranial tumors. This is the first case of an intracranial chondroma reported from Pakistan.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of a 23-year-old Asian man presenting with intracerebral chondroma of the left frontal lobe, which was eroding the dura matter. The intracranial chondroma was completely removed by surgery.

CONCLUSION

Intracranial chondromas are rare benign cartilaginous tumors. Through this case presentation we have discussed the diagnostic procedures, radiological and pathological findings. The purpose of presenting such a rare case is to develop awareness among clinicians and medical students and to highlight the requirement of immediate actions to ensure proper management of such cases.

Characteristic CT and MRI findings of intracranial chondroma

BACKGROUND

Intracranial chondromas are rare benign tumors. To date, few data are available on their neuroradiological features.

PURPOSE

To describe a series of patients with intracranial chondroma and to analyze and discuss the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features that may distinguish chondromas from other intracranial neoplasms.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed clinical and medical imaging data of six patients who had pathologically confirmed intracranial chondromas in our two institutions between July 2006 and September 2011. Both CT and MRI scanning were performed in all six cases.

RESULTS

Five tumors were located at the skull base and one originated from the falx. CT images revealed well-demarcated, irregular lobulated and variable density masses with obvious calcification (6/6), no or slight enhancement, without peritumoral edema, and frequently accompanied by erosion and destruction of surrounding bone (5/6). Tumor parenchyma appeared heterogeneously hypointense on T1WI, and hyperintense or mixed hyperintense and hypointense on T2WI, while the calcification appeared hypointense on T1WI and T2WI in five cases, demonstrating significant inhomogeneous enhancement on postcontrast MRI, which revealed the typical "punica granatum seeds" sign. Only one case showed homogeneous low signal intensity on T1WI and high signal intensity on T2WI, and relatively uniform obvious enhancement on postcontrast scans.

CONCLUSION

These characteristic CT and MR findings, combined with the location of the lesions and the history of a long duration of clinical symptoms, may prove helpful in differentiating intracranial chondromas from other more common tumors.

Chondromatosis of the choroid plexus

A case of chondromatosis of the choroid plexus in a 19 year old woman presenting with focal seizures is reported. Benign intracranial cartilaginous lesions are reviewed and the differential diagnosis of chondromatosis of the choroid plexus and intraventricular chondromas discussed.

Giant chondroma of the head and neck causing gross facial deformity

Cartilaginous tumors in the head and neck region are rare. We report the case of a middle-aged man with a progressive swelling in the left cheek area who had been seen several times over the years at our otorhinolaryngology department. The progression of the swelling culminated in an extremely large tumor that grossly distorted the patient's face. Examination revealed that the mass had probably originated in the maxillary sinus; it eventually extended to the skull base, middle cranial fossa, and cavernous sinus. Several histologic examinations of biopsy specimens identified the mass as a chondroma. The unusual size and extension of the tumor indicated extensive surgery, but the patient refused. We discuss the natural history of this tumor, and we review the current literature on head and neck chondromas.

Intracranial parafalcine chondroma in a pregnant patient

Background:

Intracranial chondromas are rare benign neoplasms. We report a patient incidentally diagnosed with an intracranial chondroma during her second trimester.

Case Description:

A 22-year-old Caucasian was diagnosed with an incidental parafalcine lesion found during admission due to a motor vehicle accident. Prior to the admission, the patient did not present with any neurological symptom. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) suggested this intracranial lesion to be benign. A decision was made to delay the tumor excision until after delivery. Special anesthesia considerations were made to maintain stable blood pressure and euvolemia during the Cesarean section. The patient underwent a successful gross total removal of the intracranial tumor two months postpartum without any post-operative deficit.

Conclusion:

This is the first case report of an intracranial parafalcine chondroma in pregnancy. This report highlights the disease course of this rare type of tumor during pregnancy. This case illustrates relevant aspects of the management of a neurologically asymptomatic patient with an incidentally discovered intracranial tumor of which MRS suggested a benign nature.

Chondroma of the dural convexity: a case report and literature review

Chondromas are unusual tumors that arise from the base of the skull and have a predilection for the spheno-ethmoidal region. Chondromas represent less than 0.5% of all intracranial tumors. In rare instances, these tumors originate from the dura mater of the convexity. Fewer than 30 cases of dural chondromas arising from the convexity or the falx are reported in the literature. In this study, we describe a new case of convexity chondroma. We discuss the radiological and histological features of this case and also review the literature.

Solitary intracerebral chondroma without meningeal attachment: a case report with review of the literature

Intracranial chondromas are rare, benign cartilaginous tumours that account for < 0.3% of primary intracranial tumours. They usually originate from the basal synchondrosis and are extradural though, extremely rarely, they can be intracerebral. Here the case of a 45-year old female is presented with a solitary intracerebral chondroma located in the right frontal lobe with no meningeal attachment. The epidemiology, aetiology, clinical behaviour, radiological features, histological features and treatment of the case are discussed with a review of previous cases reported in the literature.

Intracranial chondroma: a rare entity

Intracranial chondroma is a rare benign cartilaginous tumour with an incidence of less than 1% of all primary intracranial tumours. The authors are reporting here a case of intracranial chondroma in a 40-year-old man who presented with 5-month history of headache and gradual diminution of vision. A tentative diagnosis of chondroma was made on imprint cytology which was confirmed on histopathological examination.

Intracranial falx chondroma: Literature review and a case report

Intracranial chondromas are benign tumors that represent approximately 0.5% of all intracranial tumors. They usually occur at the base of the skull but on rare occasions might present as intra-parenchymal or intra-ventricular space-occupying lesions, most likely originating from heterotopic chondrocytes or metaplastic fibroblasts of the falx, the convexity dura, or the ventricular ependyma. Chondromas are slow-growing tumors, which remain clinically silent for a prolonged period of time in the majority of cases. Their clinical presentation is non-specific and their radiographic appearance usually does not differentiate them from their more common counterparts, such as meningiomas and glial tumors. As a result, their diagnosis has remained a histopathologic one. In our current study, we present a case of a falcine intracranial chondroma. This case provided the opportunity to extensively review the pertinent literature.

[Cranial vault chondroma: a case report and literature review]

Intracranial chondromas are unusual tumors, which most commonly arise from cartilage rets in the synchondrosis at the base of the skull. They are most likely found in the sellar and parasellar regions, usually located extradurally. In rare instances, these tumors originate from the dura mater of the convexity. In these cases their neuroradiological features may mimic other intracranial tumors. We present the case of a 50-year-old male presenting a large parasagittal tumor originating in the frontal convexity. MRI-scans revealed a cavitated tumor strongly enhanced after gadolinium infusion mimicking a parasagittal meningioma. There was no obstruction of the superior sagittal sinus as shown by cerebral angiogram. Total excision was achieved and the postoperative course was uneventful. No complementary treatment was therefore considered. The histological examination diagnosis was chondroma. Radiological workup performed at four years follow-up did not reveal any recurrence of the lesion. Pathogenic, clinico-radiological and therapeutic issues are discussed and the literature reviewed.

Chondromas of the falx cerebri and dural convexity: report of two cases and review of the literature

Intracranial chondromas usually arise from the base of the skull. They rarely originate from the convexity dura and falx. Here we describe two cases of intracranial chondroma located at the convexity dura and falx, discuss the genesis, radiologic, histologic features and review the literature.

Giant ossifying chondroma of skull

We report a rare case of giant ossifying chondroma of skull arising from temporoparietal region in a 14-year-old female, which was successfully excised. While reviewing world literature few cases of extracranial chondromas arising from the skull base were found.

Chondroma of the petrous apex

The clinicopathological features of a chondroma of petrous apex area examined with magnetic resonance (MRI) are presented. The extreme rarity of the location, the MRI aspect, and the surgical strategy based upon MRI studies make this case noteworthy.

Convexity dural chondroma: a case report and review of the literature

The majority of intracranial chondromas arise from cartilage rests in the synchondrosis at the base of the skull. Chondromas are most commonly found in the sellar and parasellar regions, usually located extradurally. In rare instances, these tumours originate from the dura mater of the convexity. We report a rare case of a chondroma arising from the convexity dura mater. The origin of this tumour is analysed and the literature reviewed.

A case of Ollier's disease associated with two intracerebral low-grade gliomas

Ollier's disease, or multiple enchondromatosis, is a deforming dysplastic disease of cartilage, characterized by multiple, asymmetrically distributed intra-osseous cartilaginous masses in the metaphyses and diaphyses of bones. When associated with soft tissue hemangiomas it is referred to as Maffucci's syndrome, in which the enchondromatosis has no unilateral distribution. The emergence of malignant neoplasms, including gliomas, is a well-recognized complication in Maffucci's syndrome. We report a 28-year-old patient with a history of Ollier's disease, who developed two low-grade cerebral gliomas as well as an intracranial chondroma. This case history questions the distinction between the two forms of enchondromatosis and supports a continuum between these disease entities.

Chondroma of the cerebellopontine angle. Case report

A patient is reported who had a solitary chondroma of the cerebellopontine angle. The tumor was totally removed. The diagnostic value of CT-scanning and MRI in this rare pathological condition are discussed.

Giant chondroma of the falx. Case report and review of the literature

The authors describe the radiological and pathological features in a patient with an intracranial chondroma originating in the falx cerebri. Diagnostic procedures and management in treatment are discussed, and a review of the literature is presented.

Intracranial chondroma arising from the cranial vault: CT and MR appearance

A case of intracranial chondroma arising from the right parietal bone in a 37-year-old woman is presented. CT and MRI findings as well as the differential diagnosis of the lesion are discussed.

A rare cause of visual loss in AIDS patients: central retinal vein occlusion

Images

Intracavernous chondrosarcoma associated with Ollier's disease

Images

View from beneath: pathology in focus. ENT presentation of Ollier's disease

Cartilaginous tumours occurring in the head and neck are usually regarded and seen as solitary lesions. However, we present an unique case where the cartilaginous tumour in the ENT region was the presenting feature of Ollier's disease (multiple enchondromatosis). It is recommended that further investigations be carried out in patients with cartilaginous tumours presenting in the head and neck to exclude the possible presence of this unusual and interesting syndrome.