title: Unusual and Rare Locations for Craniopharyngiomas: Clinical Significance and Review of the Literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study discusses rare and unusual locations of primary craniopharyngiomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a case of a craniopharyngioma in the cerebellopontine angle. As a result of this unusual location, we performed a literature review of the ectopic occurrence of craniopharyngiomas using Pubmed, Cochrane Database, Trip, and Google Scholar to search for the terms "unusual," "uncommon," and "ectopic" in combination with "craniopharyngioma." The bibliographies of relevant articles were also searched.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found 28 reported cases of rare anatomic locations for primary craniopharyngiomas. The average age of the patients was 30.8 years. Several patients had Gardner syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Craniopharyngiomas are most often located in the suprasellar region. Presentation in sites outside the parasellar region is rare. Among these ectopic sites, the cerebellopontine angle appears to be the most common location.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA. Electronic address: brandoncgabel@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Brandon C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Gabel
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Cleary
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Joel R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Usman
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: Hoi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sang U
mesh_terms: D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Cerebellopontine angle; Craniopharyngioma; Ectopic; Tumor