Giant Cell Tumor of the Temporal Bone with Direct Invasion into the Middle Ear and Skull Base: A Case Report

Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is a rare, benign, osteolytic neoplasm that most commonly occurs in early adulthood and often involves the long bones of the body. Although GCT largely affects the epiphyses of long bones, several reports of GCT involvement of the cranial and facial bones exist in the literature. In addition to reviewing other reported cases of GCT of the lateral skull base in the literature, the authors report here on the clinical presentation, radiographic findings, and management of a patient found to have a GCT of the squamous part of temporal bone invading the middle ear and infratemporal fossae, which was treated by en bloc resection of the lateral skull base.

Surgical management of giant cell tumor invading the occipital bone: A case report and literature review

Background:

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) rarely originates in the skull, particularly in the occipital bone. Although benign, it can severely destroy the surrounding tissue and undergo an unpredictable clinical course. We report the successful resection of a GCTB invading the occipital bone in a Hispanic adult woman and present a comprehensive review of the literature on this rare pathology by focusing on the occipital area.

Case Description:

A 40-year-old Hispanic woman presented with a 3-month history of neck pain and a bulging lesion on the retromastoid area. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an extradural, expansive, and contrast-enhancing lesion in the right occipital bone with multiple thin septa and evidence of bleeding. The patient underwent an uneventful gross total resection (GTR) of the lesion. The histopathological examination findings included numerous scattered osteoclast-type giant multinucleated cells. At a 10-month follow-up, the patient has not developed any neurological deficits, impairment of life functioning, or signs of recurrence in MRI.

Conclusion:

GCTB rarely originates in the skull, being the occipital bone the most infrequent site of presentation. When feasible, total surgical resection effectively reduces the risk of recurrence. Nonetheless, radiation and adjuvant therapies have been employed when GTR could not be achieved. A close follow-up with a brain MRI is advised to control recurrence.

Neurosurgical management of petrous bone lesions: classification system and selection of surgical approaches

BACKGROUND

Surgery of petrous bone lesions (PBLs) is challenging for neurosurgeons. Selection of the surgical approach is an important key for success. In this study, the authors present an anatomical classification for PBLs that has been used by our group for over the past 26 years. The objective of this study is to investigate the benefits and applicability of this classification.

METHODS

Between 1994 and 2019, 117 patients treated for PBLs were retrospectively reviewed. Using the V3 and arcuate eminence as reference points, the petrous bone is segmented into 3 parts: petrous apex, rhomboid, and posterior. The pathological diagnoses, selection of the operative approach, and the extent of resection (EOR) were analyzed and correlated using this classification.

RESULTS

This series included 22 facial nerve schwannomas (18.8%), 22 cholesterol granulomas (18.8%), 39 chordomas/chondrosarcomas (33.3%), 6 trigeminal schwannomas (5.1%), 13 epidermoids/dermoids (11.1%), and 15 other pathologies (12.8%). PBLs were most often involved with the petrous apex and rhomboid areas (46.2%). The extradural subtemporal approach (ESTA) was most frequently used (57.3%). Gross total resection was achieved in 58.4%. Symptomatic improvement occurred in 92 patients (78.6%). Our results demonstrated a correlation between this classification with each type of pathology (p < .001), selection of surgical approaches (p < 0.001), and EOR (p = 0.008). Chordoma/chondrosarcoma, redo operations, and lesions located medially were less likely to have total resection. Temporary complications occurred in 8 cases (6.8%), persistent morbidity in 5 cases (4.3%), and mortality in 1 case.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we proposed a simple classification of PBLs. Using landmarks on the superior petrosal surface, the petrous bone is divided into 3 parts, apex, rhomboid, and posterior. Our results demonstrated that chordoma/chondrosarcoma, redo operations, and lesions involving the tip of the petrous apex or far medial locations were more difficult to achieve total resection. This classification could help surgeons understand surgical anatomy framework, predict possible structures at risk, and select the most appropriate approach for each patient.

Hemorrhagic Giant Cell Tumor of the Occipital Skull Base: A Case Report and Literature Review

Giant cell tumor of bone is a benign but locally aggressive osteolytic neoplasm that represents 3% to 5% of all primary bone tumors, primarily found at the epiphyses of long bones. Less than 1% are of calvarial origin. Herein, we report a rare case of a nine-year-old girl with a hemorrhagic giant cell tumor of the left occipital skull base.

Sphenoid Sinus Giant Cell Tumor: A Case Report and Literature Review

We describe a 27-year-old female with a giant cell tumor of her sphenoid sinus, presenting with nasal obstruction and cranial neuropathies. Both the surgical and subsequent medical management are reviewed. Additionally, we review the overall presentation, pathophysiology, and management of giant cell tumors of the skull base. Current treatment recommendations are presented.

Surgical Management of Giant Cell Tumor Involving the Lateral Skull Base

The aim of the study is to discuss the current management options for intra- and extra-cranial communication giant cell tumor of the lateral skull base and perform a review of the literature. A total of 6 patients with giant cell tumor of the lateral skull base were retrospectively enrolled in the study. The principal complaints, imaging manifestations, surgical resection and reconstruction of intra- and extra-cranial communication defects for the diseases were discussed. There were 2 males and 4 females. The most of principal complaints were discomfort or pain in the temporomandibular joint in 5 cases (83.3%). Imaging examination showed invasion of the temporal bone alone in 3 cases (50.0%) and both temporal bone and sphenoid bone involvement in 3 cases (50.0%). C-shaped preauricular infratemporal fossa approach was used for tumour removal and gross total resection was done in all 6 cases. The pedicled temporal muscle fascial flap was used to reconstruct the intra- and extra-cranial communication defect of the lateral skull base. The conclusion is that giant cell tumor is a benign tumor but is also locally aggressive. Gross total resection is the most commonly recommended treatment choice for giant cell tumor of the skull and can achieve good treatment outcomes. The temporalis muscle flap is a good alternative choice for reconstruction of the defect.

Surgical management and long-term outcomes of intracranial giant cell tumors: a single-institution experience with a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Intracranial giant cell tumors (GCTs) are extremely rare neoplasms with dismal survival and recurrence rates. The authors aimed to confirm independent adverse factors for progression-free survival (PFS) and to propose an optimal treatment algorithm.

METHODS

The authors reviewed the clinical data of 43 cases of intracranial GCTs in their series. They also reviewed 90 cases of previously reported GCTs in the English language between 1982 and 2017 using Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane databases with keywords of "giant cell tumor" or "osteoclastoma" and "skull," "skull base," "temporal," "frontal," "sphenoid," or "occipital." These prior publication data were processed and used according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Aforementioned risk factors for the authors' series and the pooled cases were evaluated in patients not lost to follow-up (m = 38 and n = 128, respectively).

RESULTS

The authors' cohort included 28 males and 15 females with a mean age of 30.5 years. Gross-total resection (GTR) was achieved in 15 (34.9%) patients. Fifteen patients (39.5%) who did not undergo GTR received postoperative radiotherapy with a mean total dose of 54.7 ± 4.1 Gy. After a mean follow-up of 71.3 months, 12 (31.6%) patients experienced recurrence, and 4 (10.5%) died of disease. The actuarial 5-year PFS and overall survival (OS) were 68.6% and 90.0% in the authors' cohort, respectively. A multivariate Cox regression analysis verified that partial resection (HR 7.909, 95% CI 2.296-27.247, p = 0.001), no radiotherapy (HR 0.114, 95% CI 0.023-0.568, p = 0.008), and Ki-67 ≥ 10% (HR 7.816, 95% CI 1.584-38.575, p = 0.012) were independent adverse factors for PFS. Among the 90 cases in the literature, GTR was achieved in 49 (54.4%) cases. Radiotherapy was administered to 33 (36.7%) patients with a mean total dose of 47.1 ± 5.6 Gy. After a mean follow-up of 31.5 months, recurrence and death occurred in 17 (18.9%) and 5 (5.6%) cases, respectively. Among the pooled cases, the 5-year PFS and OS were 69.6% and 89.2%, respectively. A multivariate model demonstrated that partial resection (HR 4.792, 95% CI 2.909-7.893, p < 0.001) and no radiotherapy (HR 0.165, 95% CI 0.065-0.423, p < 0.001) were independent adverse factors for poor PFS.

CONCLUSIONS

GTR and radiotherapy were independent favorable factors for PFS of intracranial GCTs. Based on these findings, GTR alone or GTR plus radiotherapy was advocated as an optimal treatment; otherwise, partial resection plus radiotherapy with a dose ≥ 45 Gy, if tolerable, was a secondary alternative. Lack of randomized data of the study was stressed, and future studies with larger cohorts are necessary to verify these findings.Systematic review no.: CRD42018090878 (crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/).

Giant Cell Tumor of the Lateral Skull Base: Diagnostic and Management Options

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a rare, benign, osteolytic neoplasm that most commonly occurs in early adulthood and often involves the long bones of the body. Although GCTB largely affects the epiphyses of long bones, several reports of GCTB involvement of the cranial and facial bones exist in the literature. In addition to reviewing other reported cases of GCTBs of the lateral skull base in the literature, the authors report here on the clinical presentation, radiographic findings, and neurosurgical management of a patient found to have a GCTB of the middle and infratemporal fossae, which was treated by aggressive en bloc resection of the lateral skull base.

Skull Base Erosion Resulting From Primary Tumors of the Temporomandibular Joint and Skull Base Region: Our Classification and Reconstruction Experience

PURPOSE

We sought to introduce our classification and reconstruction protocol for skull base erosions in the temporomandibular joint and skull base region.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with neoplasms in the temporomandibular joint and skull base region treated from January 2006 to March 2017 were reviewed. Skull base erosion was classified into 3 types according to the size of the defect.

RESULTS

We included 33 patients, of whom 5 (15.2%) had type I defects (including 3 in whom free fat grafts were placed and 2 in whom deep temporal fascial fat flaps were placed). There were 8 patients (24.2%) with type II defects, all of whom received deep temporal fascial fat flaps. A total of 20 patients (60.6%) had type III defects, including 17 in whom autogenous bone grafts were placed, 1 in whom titanium mesh was placed, and 2 who received total alloplastic joints. The mean follow-up period was 50 months. All of the patients exhibited stable occlusion and good facial symmetry. No recurrence was noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Our classification and reconstruction principles allowed reliable morpho-functional skull base reconstruction.

Recurrent Giant Cell Tumor of Skull Combined with Multiple Aneurysms

Giant cell tumors are benign but locally invasive and frequently recur. Giant cell tumors of the skull are extremely rare. A patient underwent a surgery to remove a tumor, but the tumor recurred. Additionally, the patient developed multiple aneurysms. The patient underwent total tumor resection and trapping for the aneurysms, followed by radiotherapy. We report this rare case and suggest some possibilities for treating tumor growth combined with aneurysm development.

Rare Presentation of Giant Cell Tumor in the Internal Auditory Canal: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Giant cell tumor (GCT) is a benign but locally aggressive bone tumor that usually involves the end of long bones. It is a relatively common neoplasm in patients, constituting 5 to 10% of all benign bone tumors. Approximately 2% of GCTs occur in the craniofacial skeleton with a predilection for the ethmoid, sphenoid, and temporal bones. The skull base location is unique and not commonly described. Hearing loss, headache, tinnitus, and subcutaneous masses are the most commonly reported symptoms in GCTs of the skull base. In this case report we present the first description of a GCT within the internal auditory canal causing cranial neuropathy and review the recent pertinent literature.