title: Primary Ectopic Ethmoidal Craniopharyngioma.
abstract: Craniopharyngiomas are benign but aggressive epithelial tumors usually originating in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland from squamous remnants of an incompletely involuted craniopharingeal duct developing from the Rathke pouch. To the authors' knowledge only 1 patient of a primary isolated ethmoidal craniopharyngioma has been reported in the literature.The authors report the case of a 17-year-old boy with a primary extracranial ethmoidal craniopharyngioma. An endoscopic endonasal approach was employed to resect the tumor. After 2 years of clinical and radiological follow-up no recurrence of disease was observed.Primary ethmoidal craniopharyngiomas are rare entities and biopsy is necessary for diagnosis. However, a preoperative assessment by means of nasal endoscopy, computed tomography scan, and enhanced magnetic resonance imaging is mandatory to better evaluate the extension and characteristics of the tumor. The endoscopic endonasal technique is a safe and effective approach for the treatment of these lesions.
authors.affiliation: *Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences †Head and Neck Surgery & Forensic Dissection Research Center (HNS & FDRC), Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria-Varese, ASST Sette Laghi, Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, Varese ‡Division of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Surgical, Microsurgical and Medical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari §Division of Pathology, Department of Surgical and Morphological Sciences, University of Insubria-Varese, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Preti
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karligkiotis
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Facco
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ottini
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Volpi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castelnuovo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002828:Choristoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005004:Ethmoid Bone / Q000601:surgery; D005005:Ethmoid Sinus / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D010902:Pituitary Gland; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery