Metastatic disease to the clivus mimicking clival chordomas

Gamma knife radiosurgery for clival metastasis: case series and systematic review

PURPOSE

Clival metastatic cancer is rare and has limited literature to guide management. We describe management of clival metastasis with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS). We augment our findings with a systematic review of all forms of radiation therapy for clival metastasis.

METHODS

Records of 14 patients with clival metastasis who underwent GKRS at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center from 2002 to 2023 were reviewed. Treatment parameters and clinical outcomes were assessed. A systematic review was conducted using evidence-based guidelines.

RESULTS

The average age was 61 years with male predominance (n = 10) and average follow-up of 12.4 months. The most common primary cancers were prostate (n = 3) and lung (n = 3). The average time from cancer diagnosis to clival metastasis was 34 months. The most common presenting symptoms were headache (n = 9) and diplopia (n = 7). Five patients presented with abducens nerve palsies, and two presented with oculomotor nerve palsies. The median tumor volume was 9.3 cc, and the median margin dose was 15 Gy. Eleven patients achieved tumor control after one procedure, and three with progression obtained tumor control after repeat GKRS. One patient recovered abducens nerve function. The median survival from cancer diagnosis and GKRS were 49.7 and 15.3 months, respectively. The cause of death was progression of systemic cancer in six patients, clival metastasis in one, and unknown in four. The systematic review included 31 studies with heterogeneous descriptions of treatment and outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Clival metastasis is rare and associated with poor prognosis. GKRS is a safe, effective treatment for clival metastasis.

Clival Metastases: Single-Center Retrospective Case Series and Literature Review

Background/Objectives: Clivus metastases from distant neoplasms are uncommon occurrences both in clinical practice and the neurosurgical literature. Surgical management is debated, particularly about the role of surgery and the preferable approach. The aim of this study was to report our surgical experience and review the concerning literature. Methods: Our institutional registry was retrospectively reviewed, and patients who underwent surgical treatment for clival metastasis from 1998 to 2023 were included. A PRISMA systematic review of the literature was performed. Results: Four patients were enrolled, and all of them underwent an endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA). Three presented with cranial nerve (CN) VI palsy. The aim of surgery was biopsy in all cases. No complications were reported. Mean overall survival (OS) was 6 ± 1 months. The systematic review retrieved 27 papers reporting 39 patients who underwent the surgical treatment of clivus metastases. Most of them (79.5%) presented with CN palsies, and EEA was the preferred approach in 92.3% of the cases, to perform a biopsy in most patients (59%). Two hemorrhagic complications (5.1%) were reported, and the mean OS was 9.4 ± 5.6 months. Conclusions: Clival metastases are uncommonly observed, in most cases, during advanced stages of oncological disease. The aim of surgery should be the confirmation of diagnosis and symptomatic relief, balancing the risk-benefit ratio in a multidisciplinary context. EEA is the approach of choice, and it should be carried out in experienced tertiary skull base centers.

Unusual sites of hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis: Case report

Hepatocellular carcinoma is an increasingly frequent cause of cancer-related death. The majority of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma are asymptomatic. In rare cases, patients may present with symptoms of extrahepatic metastases. Early identification can lead to timely treatment and prevent poor outcomes. We report three cases of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with unusual sites of metastasis, including clival, mandible, and cardiac involvement.

Decision-Making in Clival Mass Lesions: Risk Factors for Malignant Disease and an Illustrative Case Example

Introduction  Clival tumors are rare and heterogeneous. Although some benign prototypical sellar lesions may present as clival tumors, the likelihood of malignant disease is higher. Here we define a novel algorithm for the workup and management of clival masses through an illustrative case of colorectal adenocarcinoma metastasis to the clivus. Methods  In this case report, the best practice guidelines for managing clival masses are described through a literature review and refined by senior author consensus. We conducted a focused systematic review to characterize the present case in the context of clival metastasis from gastrointestinal malignancy. Results  An 83-year-old woman presented with 4 weeks of headaches and blurry vision. Examination revealed partial right abducens and left oculomotor palsies. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) identified a large, weakly enhancing sellar and clival mass with sphenoid sinus extension. An aggressive subtotal endoscopic endonasal resection was performed with removal of all sphenoid, clival, and sellar disease without cavernous sinus wall resection. Pathology confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma; computed tomography (CT) imaging identified an ascending colon mass with metastases to the liver and mesenteric nodes. Palliative oncologic therapies were recommended, but she elected hospice, and died 3 months after initial presentation. Gastrointestinal clival metastases are exceedingly rare among sellar and clival pathologies, with eight prior cases reported, most of which presented with diplopia from abducens nerve involvement. Conclusion  Clival masses are uncommon skull base lesions that are associated with more aggressive diseases. We present a consolidated framework for decision-making in these challenging patients, alongside an unusual case example that illustrates the importance of increased suspicion for malignant clinical entities in this setting.

AS. Clival and Paraclival Lesions: A Pictorial Review

The clivus is a midline anatomical structure in the central skull base. It is affected by a wide range of non-neoplastic, benign and malignant pathologies, some of which typically affect the clivus because of its strategic location and embryological origins. Clival lesions may often be asymptomatic with occasional complaints like headache or cranial neuropathy in few. Cross-sectional imaging techniques, namely, computed tomographic scan and magnetic resonance imaging, thus, play a key role in approximating to the final diagnosis and estimating the disease extent. In this article, we highlight the important imaging features of various clival and paraclival pathologies to facilitate effective diagnosis, therapeutic planning, and management.

Evaluation of diplopia as a vital and remarkable ocular finding among cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Diplopia is an important and debilitating symptom of malignancies due to different pathogenetic mechanisms. Data is lacking in the literature because of the rarity of the diplopia in patients with cancer.

AIMS

We aimed to evaluate the etiological and clinical factors of diplopia in patients with different types of cancer.

METHODS

We retrospectively investigated 22 cancer patients with diplopia who were admitted between 2018 and 2021. The diagnosis of primary cancer, the underlying factors causing diplopia, and the life expectancy after diplopia were evaluated.

RESULTS

Among available data of 620 cancer patients applied to our ophthalmology department, 22 (3.55%) had diplopia. Paralytic strabismus was found in 19 patients and restrictive strabismus was found in 3 patients. Among the paralytic cases, 6th nerve palsy was found to be the most common with a rate of 68%. In 18 of 22 (82%) patients, the cause of diplopia was due to orbital or brain metastasis or local invasion. Two patients had diplopia secondary to radiotherapy and 2 had diplopia due to chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Metastasis is the most common cause of diplopia in patients with cancer and screening for metastasis is crucial as soon as diplopia begins for a better life expectancy.

A practical overview of CT and MRI features of developmental, inflammatory, and neoplastic lesions of the sphenoid body and clivus

The sphenoid bone is an unpaired bone that contributes to the formation of the skull base. Despite the enormous progress in transnasal endoscopic visualisation, imaging techniques remain the cornerstones to characterise any pathological condition arising in this area. In the present review, we offer a bird’s-eye view of the developmental, inflammatory, and neoplastic alterations affecting the sphenoid body and clivus, with the aim to propose a practical diagnostic aid for radiologists based on clinico-epidemiological, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging features.

Metastatic Lesions of the Clivus: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Metastatic lesions of the clivus are extremely rare, having previously been estimated as representing 0.02% of all intracranial tumors. Owing to its close intracranial relationship with the clivus before entering the cavernous sinus, clinical palsies of the sixth cranial nerve have been classically associated with destructive lesions of this structure.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of PubMed was conducted for studies of patients with metastasis to the clivus from primary cancer at any site. Studies reported in English in the past 20 years from our last search on April 12, 2021 were included. The data collected included patient age, sex, symptoms at presentation, histopathology and treatment timeline of the primary tumor, treatment, follow-up, and mortality.

RESULTS

After the literature review, 46 studies reporting on 58 patients with clivus metastasis were included in the final analysis. The mean age of the patients was 57.5 years, and 39 were male (67.2%). The most common sites of the primary tumor were the prostate (22%), gastrointestinal tract (15%), lung (13%), and kidney (11%). In 43% of patients, symptoms of clivus metastasis had presented before the diagnosis of primary cancer was known, and 71% of the patients had presented with sixth nerve palsy. Of the 58 patients, 53% had undergone surgery, and 37% had received adjuvant radiotherapy. Of the 58 patients, 25% had received radiotherapy alone. The endoscopic transsphenoidal approach to the clivus was almost uniquely used for surgical management. Survival data were available for 31 patients. Death had occurred at a mean of 9.4 months after the presentation of clivus metastasis. A strong correlation was found between the interval from primary cancer to the presentation of clivus metastasis and mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Although an extremely rare occurrence, clivus metastasis should be considered in patients with a history of malignancy, in particular, prostate malignancy, presenting with new-onset isolated sixth nerve palsy.

Metastatic Disease to Clivus: Biopsy or Not?

Due to the aggressive nature of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), most patients succumb to disease before any distant metastasis, such as to the central nervous system (CNS), can occur. Thus only a handful of cases of metastasis to the skull base have been described. After a thorough review of the available literature published since 1950, we report the sixth case of HCC metastasis to the clivus. In this case, a 65-year-old man with a history of melanoma presented with sudden onset of right-sided headache and complete ophthalmoplegia of the right eye for one month. MRI of the brain with and without contrast demonstrated a homogeneously enhancing lesion involving the clivus with evidence of invasion into the right cavernous sinus. Through further body imaging, he was found to have an infiltrative lesion in the left hepatic lobe and underwent an ultrasound-guided biopsy of said lesion that was proven to be well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma. An endonasal endoscopic biopsy of his clival lesion was performed and the final pathology was consistent with a metastatic HCC. This case demonstrates the impact of obtaining a surgical specimen of clival tumors to confirm the suspected diagnosis, as well as to perform molecular studies that can drive post-operative decision-making and prognosis. As in this case, the final diagnosis altered treatment plans from that of melanoma, with systemic chemotherapy and radiosurgery, to stereotactic radiosurgery and intrahepatic radioembolization.

Three-Dimensional Volume Imaging to Increase the Accuracy of Surgical Management in a Case of Recurrent Chordoma of the Clivus

Patient: Male, 53

Final Diagnosis: Clivus chordoma

Symptoms: Pain the eye

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: —

Specialty: Radiology

Clival metastasis of renal clear cell carcinoma: Case report and literature review

The clivus is an atypical metastatic site for renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC). Here we report a 54 year old man with acute cavernous sinus syndrome. Brain magnetic resonance imaging identified a clival-based lesion with associated bony erosion. The patient underwent endoscopic endonasal biopsy and partial resection of the clival mass. Because histologic examination of the resected specimen resulted in a diagnosis of RCCC, contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan of the abdomen was performed and showed an enhanced left renal mass. The patient subsequently underwent laparoscopic left radical nephrectomy and gamma knife was planned for the residual clival lesion. We also retrospectively reviewed available published reports on clival metastases, specifically those from RCCC, since 1990.

The identification of H3F3A mutation in giant cell tumour of the clivus and the histological diagnostic algorithm of other clival lesions permit the differential diagnosis in this location

BACKGROUND

Giant Cell Tumour of Bone (GCT) is a locally aggressive primary bone tumour that usually occurs at the epiphyses of the long bones of the appendicular skeleton with a tendency to recurrence. Recurrent somatic H3F3A mutations have been described in 92% of GCT cases. GCTs involving the Clivus are extremely rare lesions and less than 15 cases are described in the literature. They represent a surgery challenge and are easily misdiagnosed. Our aim was to reveal if the genetic bases underlying Clival GCTs were the same of GCTs of long bones to improve the diagnosis and treatment.

METHODS

The targeted somatic sequencing of GCT-related genes (H3F3A, H3F3B, IDH1, IDH2 and ZNF687) was performed on Clival GCT biopsies of two different cases. Histological analyses on the same tissues were used to detect the neoplastic population and its expression profile.

RESULTS

Sanger sequencing revealed that both patients were positive for the p.Gly34Trp mutation in the H3F3A gene. Immunofluorescence assay using monoclonal antibody, specifically detecting the mutant H3.3, highlighted that the mutation only involved the mononuclear cell population and not the multinucleated giant cells. Moreover, immunohistochemistry assay showed that RANKL was highly expressed by the stromal cells within Clival GCT, mimicking what happens in GCT of the long bones. In addition, systematic literature review allowed us to generate a histology-based diagnostic algorithm of the most common clival lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that the Clival GCT is genetically defined by somatic mutation in the H3F3A gene, linking it to the GCT of long bones. The similarity with GCTs of long bones let us to hypothesize the utility of Denosumab therapy (already effective for GCTs) in these surgically challenging cases. Moreover, H3F3A genetic screening can be combined to the histological analysis to differentiate GCTs from morphologically similar giant cell-rich sarcomas, while the histological diagnostic algorithm could help the differential diagnosis of other clival lesions.

Clival metastasis from a gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma causing multiple cranial neuropathies

A 78-year-old man with a history of benign prostatic hyperplasia presented with double vision, facial pain, altered taste and headache for 7 weeks. Neurological exam was notable for palsies of the right V, VI, VII and XII cranial nerves. An expansive clival mass and multiple lesions in the vertebra were found on MRI. Radionuclide studies showed extensive tumour burden in his liver and peritoneum. His serologies showed normal carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels and modestly elevated prostate-specific antigen, which was a red herring. Biopsy of his omentum was consistent with metastatic adenocarcinoma with immunostaining indicating an upper gastrointestinal primary tumour. The patient underwent several cycles of radiation therapy, but ultimately elected to pursue hospice care. This case demonstrates the presentation of multiple cranial neuropathies from a clival mass and an unusual primary source from an upper gastrointestinal tumour.

Endoscopic Resection of Clival Malignancies

Surgical management of clival lesions presents numerous therapeutic challenges because of the close proximity of surrounding critical structures. With a detailed understanding of the endoscopic endonasal approach and relevant considerations, appropriate lesions can be removed in a safe and minimally invasive manner. Use of this technique as a primary approach represents the standard of care for many lesions at leading skull base centers, although adjunct techniques may be necessary in extensive lesions and those with significant lateral extension.

Isolated clival metastasis: a rare presentation of renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma accounts for 3% of all adult malignancies. Usual sites of metastasis are lymph nodes, lungs, bone, liver and brain. We describe a patient who presented with complaints of holocranial headache and diplopia. MRI of the head showed a clival-based lesion with associated bony erosion. With suspicion of a metastatic lesion, an ultrasonogram of the abdomen was done which showed a left renal mass that enhanced on contrast-enhanced CT. There were no other metastatic foci. Patient underwent radiotherapy for the clival lesion. This case report emphasises on the evaluation of clival lesion with cranial neuropathies for a possibility of a renal primary tumour.

Incomplete cavernous sinus syndrome as the initial manifestation of a previously undetected metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Cavernous sinus syndrome presents as unilateral ophthalmoplegia associated with sympathetic denervation, pain, paresthesias, and V1 and V2 distribution numbness. The etiology may be vascular, inflammatory, infectious, and, less commonly, neoplastic (metastatic).

METHODS

We report a patient with incomplete cavernous sinus syndrome as the initial manifestation of previously undetected metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma.

RESULTS

A 59-year-old man presented with a 2-month history of left hemicranial headaches with ptosis and binocular diplopia. Clinical evaluation found left third, fourth, and sixth cranial nerve palsy with mydriasis and ptosis. An MRI showed an enhancing lesion at the clivus with infiltration of left cavernous sinus. A trans-sphenoidal biopsy was performed, leading to diagnosis of metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent treatment and achieved clinical improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

In middle-aged men, it is important to include metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma in the differential diagnosis of cavernous sinus syndrome, even in the absence of primary tumor diagnosis.

Tumors Presenting as Multiple Cranial Nerve Palsies

Cranial nerve palsy could be one of the presenting features of underlying benign or malignant tumors of the head and neck. The tumor can involve the cranial nerves by local compression, direct infiltration or by paraneoplastic process. Cranial nerve involvement depends on the anatomical course of the cranial nerve and the site of the tumor. Patients may present with single or multiple cranial nerve palsies. Multiple cranial nerve involvement could be sequential or discrete, unilateral or bilateral, painless or painful. The presentation could be acute, subacute or recurrent. Anatomic localization is the first step in the evaluation of these patients. The lesion could be in the brain stem, meninges, base of skull, extracranial or systemic disease itself. We present 3 cases of underlying neoplasms presenting as cranial nerve palsies: a case of glomus tumor presenting as cochlear, glossopharyngeal, vagus and hypoglossal nerve palsies, clivus tumor presenting as abducens nerve palsy, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma presenting as oculomotor, trochlear, trigeminal and abducens nerve palsies due to paraneoplastic involvement. History and physical examination, imaging, autoantibodies and biopsy if feasible are useful for the diagnosis. Management outcomes depend on the treatment of the underlying tumor.

Unusual presentation of non-small cell lung cancer with clival metastases: Case report

A 37-year-old female with unusual presentation of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as she presented with symptoms related to clival bone metastases. This case highlights the unpredictable presentations and the variety of metastatic sites of which metastatic NSCLC could be presented.

Unusual Spread of Renal Cell Carcinoma to the Clivus with Cranial Nerve Deficit

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has unusual presentation affecting elderly males with a smoking history. The incidence of RCC varies while the incidence of spread of RCC to the clivus is rare. The typicality of RCC presentation includes hematuria, flank pain, and a palpable flank mass; however, RCC can also present with clival metastasis. The unique path of the abducens nerve in the clivus makes it susceptible to damage in metastasis. We report a case of a 54-year-old African American female that was evaluated for back pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling of bilateral lower extremities and subsequently disconjugate gaze and diplopia. Brain MRI confirmed metastasis to the clivus. She was started on radiotherapy and was planned for chemotherapy and transfer to a nursing home. When a patient presents with sudden unusual cranial nerve pathology, the possibility of metastatic RCC should be sought.

Skull metastasis from follicular thyroid carcinoma: report of three cases and review of literature

Three patients' medical history, clinical manifestation, imaging characteristic, therapy and prognosis of calvaria metastasis from follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed by reviewing medical literature. In case one, the tumor in frontal bone and fossa orbital was total resected, no further treatment was performed, the patient gave up on therapy and died of extensive metastasis at 22 months after the initial operation. In case two, the tumor in parietal and occipital bone was total resected, the subtotal resection of bilateral thyroid gland and isthmus was performed and combined with therapy of Levothyroxine and (131)I radio-iodine therapy, no evidence of tumor recurrence at 30 months after the primary operation. In case three, the tumor in occipital bone was gross total resected, total resection of bilateral thyroid gland and clearance of lymph node was performed after two months, adjunctive therapy with Levothyroxine, (131)I radio-iodine and skull radiotherapy, no evidence of tumor recurrence at 21 months after the primary operation. Correct diagnosis of calvaria metastasis from FTC preoperative is difficult because it's rarity, patients can survive for years after synthetic therapy including total resection of metastatic tumor, radical operation of thyroid carcinoma, adjunctive therapy of Levothyroxine, (131)I radio-iodine and skull radiotherapy.