Primary ectopic frontotemporal craniopharyngioma.
BACKGROUND
Primary ectopic craniopharyngiomas have only rarely been reported. Craniopharyngiomas involve usually the sellar and suprasellar region, but can be originated from cell remnants of the obliterated craniopharyngeal duct or metaplastic change of andenohypophyseal cells. We present the first case of a primary ectopic frontotemporal craniopharyngioma.


METHODS
A 35-year old woman presented with a one-year history of headache and diplopia. MRI showed a large frontotemporal cystic lesion. Tumor resection was performed with a keyhole endoscopic frontal lateral approach. The pathological features showed an adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma with a cholesterol granuloma reaction.


CONCLUSIONS
There have been reported different localizations for primary ectopic craniopharyngioma. Our case presented a lobulated frontotemporal cystic mass formed by a dense eosinophilic proteinaceous material dystrophic calcifications and cholesterol crystals, with epithelial remnants. No tumor regrowth was observed in the magnetic resonance image 27 months postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
Primary ectopic craniopharyngioma is a rare entity with a pathogenesis that remains uncertain. This is an unusual anatomic location associated with unique clinical findings.
Department of Neurosurgery. National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery "Manuel Velasco Suarez" Mexico City, Mexico.
Luis Alberto
LA
Ortega-Porcayo
Department of Neurosurgery. National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery "Manuel Velasco Suarez" Mexico City, Mexico.
Juan Antonio
JA
Ponce-Gómez
Department of Neurosurgery. National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery "Manuel Velasco Suarez" Mexico City, Mexico.
Mauricio
M
Martínez-Moreno
Department of Neuroendocrinology. National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery "Manuel Velasco Suarez", Mexico City, Mexico.
Lesly
L
Portocarrero-Ortíz
Department of Neuropathology. National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery "Manuel Velasco Suarez" Mexico City, Mexico.
Martha Lilia
ML
Tena-Suck
Department of Neurosurgery. National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery "Manuel Velasco Suarez" Mexico City, Mexico. Electronic address: jlga@neurocirugia-innn.com.
Juan Luis
JL
Gómez-Amador
Craniopharyngioma; Ectopic; Endoscopic; Keyhole