Unusual lesion of the clivus: diagnosis and discussion

Primary intraosseous cavernous hemangioma of the clivus: A case report and literature review

Background

The radiographic presentation of the primary intraosseous cavernous hemangiomas (PICHs) is nonspecific. We report a case of clival PICH mimicking a chordoma with a literature review.

Case Description

A 57-year-old woman presented with diplopia that started a few days before the presentation. She had transient diplopia at the right lateral gaze and upper gaze with normal eye movement. The symptoms disappeared spontaneously 1 week later. She had no other complaints or neurological deficits. Computed tomography revealed an intraosseous mass lesion and bone erosion of the middle and lower clivus, extending laterally to the right occipital condyle. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed hyperintense and hypointense components on T2- and T1-weighted images, respectively. The lesion was larger than on MRI performed 10 years earlier. Chordoma or chondroma was considered a possible preoperative diagnosis. An endoscopic transsphenoidal approach removed the tumor. In the operating view, the lesion appeared as "moth-eaten" bony interstices filled with vascular soft tissue. Histologically, an intraosseous cavernous hemangioma was diagnosed.

Conclusion

Diagnosis before surgery is difficult without characteristic radiographic findings. When making a differential diagnosis of malignant skull lesions, PICH should be considered.

Non-chordomatous clival bony tumors: A rare experience and systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Non-chordomatous bony tumors of the clivus are extremely rare. Site, extent, and aggressiveness of tumor limits the extent of resection. It poses challenge to the neurosurgeons due to the complexity of anatomy. There is paucity of literature exclusively on non-chordomatous bone tumors of the clivus in young adults.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the clinical presentation, imaging findings, surgical approach, complications, and outcome of primary clival bony tumors in young adults.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed children and young adults with primary clival bony tumors excluding chordoma who underwent surgical resection between years 2010 and 2023 in our center. We analyzed the demographic details, imaging findings, operative variables, perioperative complications, length of stay, complications, and outcome at latest follow-up.

RESULTS

The mean age was 17.5 ± 1.73 years (range 16 to 19 years). Headache was the presenting complaint in all four patients (100%). The mean duration of symptom was 7.25 ± 3.2 months (range 5 to 12 months). The tumor was localized in clivus in all four patients (100%). The mean length of stay in hospital was 30.5 ± 13.48 days (range 11 to 40 days). All patients underwent surgical treatment. Surgical approaches used were anterior approach in four patients (100%). Gross total excision was performed in one patient (25%), sub-total excision was performed in two patients (50%), and tumor decompression was performed in one patient (25%). Of these, three were designated as having benign tumors and one had a malignant tumor. There was no perioperative mortality. There was one mortality (25%) on 2 months follow-up due to tumor progression. Three patients (75%) had improved symptomatically at latest follow-up. Two patients (50%) received adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. The mean follow-up was 38 ± 39.29 months (range 2 to 72 months).

CONCLUSION

Non-chordomatous bony tumors of the clivus are rare and often underestimated. Surgery is the treatment of choice. Tumor consistency and adhesion to critical neurovascular structures precludes gross total resection. Various approaches are in the armamentarium. Approach to be decided based on the expertise of the neurosurgeon to achieve safe maximal resection. Multidisciplinary approach is mandatory for streamlined management. Adjuvant therapy is decided based on the residual tumor following surgery.

Case report: Cavernous hemangioma in the right frontoparietal junction

Background

Primary intraosseous cavernous hemangioma is a benign tumor with slow growth and is rarely seen in clinics. The clinical manifestations of most patients are progressive enlargement of the head mass.

Case presentation

We report a 30-year-old female patient with cavernous hemangioma at the frontoparietal junction. Upon admission, the right frontal lobe mass was progressively enlarged for 3 years and underwent lesion resection and stage I skull reconstruction. The postoperative outcome was good, with no recurrence at 1-year follow-up.

Conclusion

Primary intraosseous cavernous hemangioma is a relatively rare clinical tumor, the pathogenesis of which is still unclear, and most of them have no specific clinical manifestations. Characteristic imaging findings are highly suspicious of this disease, but the definitive diagnosis still depends on histopathological examination. Currently, total surgical resection of the tumor is a relatively effective and preferred treatment.

Fibrous Dysplasia, Paget's Disease of Bone, and Other Uncommon Sclerotic Bone Lesions of the Craniofacial Bones

Imaging studies of the brain, head and neck, sinuses, and dental computed tomography are among the most frequently performed procedures in radiologic departments. Systematic evaluation in the bone window may reveal common and uncommon sclerotic osseous abnormalities of the craniofacial skeleton.Most of these findings are incidental and unrelated to the initial clinical indications. Sporadically symptoms may arise due to lesional mass effect with compression on adjacent structures and neuroforaminal encroachment, resulting in proptosis, vision, or hearing loss. Other symptoms include craniofacial deformity, mandibular occlusion deformity, and local pain.This article reviews the most common disorders characterized by an increased bone density involving the craniofacial bones including fibrous dysplasia, Paget's disease of bone, meningioma with associated hyperostosis, and osteoma. Finally, typical examples of rarer sclerosing bone dysplasias are discussed as well.Emphasis is placed on imaging features and the differential diagnosis.

Petroclival intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia with psammoma body-like structures

Masson's tumor or intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia (IPEH) is considered a non-neoplastic lesion. It is probably an unusual exaggerated reorganization of a thrombus. IPEH may be present as a secondary lesion in hemangiomas. Symptomatic osseous hemangiomas are rare tumors. Few cases of clival and petrous bone hemangiomas have been described. None of them shows secondary IPEH. So far, there are only four reported cases of cranial bone IPEHs in the literature, two in the skull, one in the clivus and one in the petrous apex. The aim of this study is to report an additional case of osseous hemangioma with secondary IPEH of the petroclival region. We review the literature and describe the main clinical features of IPEHs and hemangiomas of the clivus and the petrous bone. Additionally, we report an unusual histological feature observed in our case of IPEH, the presence of psammoma body-like structures. This feature has been rarely mentioned previously in IPEH. We consider that IPEH should be included in the lesions that may present psammoma bodies to avoid misdiagnosing it as a tumor that commonly shows psammoma bodies, such as intraosseous meningioma or, less frequently, metastasis of thyroid or ovarian carcinoma.

High risk of cerebrospinal fluid leakage in surgery of a rare primary intraosseous cavernous hemangioma of the clivus showing meningeal infiltration: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Primary intraosseous cavernous hemangiomas (PICH) of the skull represent an infrequent bone tumor. Although some rare cases of PICHs located in the skull base have been published, to our concern only three cases have been reported in the English literature of PICHs arising within the clivus.

CASE DESCRIPTION

We present the case of a patient presenting an isolated abducens paresis due to a rare PICH of the clivus showing also an unusual destruction of the inner table as well as infiltration of the dura mater. Due to this uncommon infiltrative pattern of an otherwise expected intraosseous tumor, a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-fistula occurred while performing a transnasal biopsy. The patient recovered successfully without need of lumbar drainage or re-surgery. Additionally, intratumoral decompression was sufficient to relief the abducens paresis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our case provides new and meaningful information about clinical features as well as growth pattern of these rare clival tumors. We also discuss the importance of knowing these peculiarities before surgery in order to plan the optimal operative management as well as to avoid complications while approaching PICHs localized in such a delicate cranial region.

Solitary lesions of the clivus: what else besides chordomas? An extensive clinical outlook on rare pathologies

BACKGROUND

Solitary non-chordomatous lesions of the clivus are rare pathologies, which represent a diagnostic challenge. This study provides an overview of the clinical, radiological and prognostic characteristics of non-chordomatous clival lesions, highlighting current therapeutic options.

METHODS

Twenty-two non-chordomatous lesions of the clivus were collected. A retrospective analysis of clinical and radiological patterns as well as survival data was conducted.

RESULTS

Clinical presentation was a result of local mass effect. Imaging features, although mainly specific, were not always diagnostic. Extent of surgery was gross total in 45.5 % of cases. Depending on the histology, biological behaviour and presence of seeding, adjuvant treatment was performed, tailoring the treatment strategy to the single patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Solitary non-chordomatous lesions of the clival bone are more prevalent than expected. They should be approached with a correct differential diagnosis, considering specific epidemiological, radiological, and histopathological characteristics, to minimise diagnostic bias and allow the planning of the best treatment strategy.

Primary intraosseous cavernous hemangioma of the clivus: case report and review of the literature

Primary intraosseous hemangiomas are benign, vascular malformations that account for approximately 1% of all primary bone neoplasms. These tumors are mostly found in vertebral bodies and are rarely seen in the calvarium, where they represent 0.2% of bony neoplasms. When found in the skull, they tend to present with vague symptoms and do not have the typical radiological findings suggestive of hemangiomas. Because of this, these tumors can be missed in many cases or may be misinterpreted as more ominous lesions like multiple myeloma or osteosarcoma. Involvement of the skull base is exceedingly rare, and presentation with cranial nerve unilateral polyneuropathies has not been reported. We report a patient case with review of recent pertinent literature.

Congenital intraosseous cavernous hemangioma of the skull: an unusual case

Intraosseous hemangiomas are benign vascular malformations mostly seen in the spine. They rarely occur in the skull. The usual age-group involved is the 2nd to 4th decades, and females outnumber males. We hereby report a rare case of congenital intraosseous cavernous hemangioma of the skull bone in a male infant. The patient underwent total excision of the lesion.