title: Total removal of a primary intracranial squamous cell carcinoma invading the brain stem.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary intracranial squamous cell carcinomas are extremely rare, and commonly manifest as malignant transformations of intracranial epidermoid cysts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case of primary squamous cell carcinoma invading the ventral brain stem and the trigeminal entry zone is described. The tumor was microsurgically totally removed via a paramedian supracerebellar approach. Three years after the operation the tumor recurred, and was again totally removed using the same approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient showed no postoperative neurologic deterioration except for a transient deterioration of gait disturbances. The pathologic diagnosis was a recurrence of the squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since primary intracranial squamous cell carcinomas grow slowly and have a well demarcated capsule, total removal should be considered whenever possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jochum
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aguzzi
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yonekawa
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001933:Brain Stem; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D012086:Reoperation; D014278:Trigeminal Nuclei