A Case of Large Chondroblastoma Occupying Middle Cranial Fossa

ABSTRACT

Chondroblastoma is a benign occurrence bone tumor arising most often in the epiphyses of long bone and its occurance in skull is rare. The authors recently encountered a case of large chondroblastoma occupying middle cranial fossa. The clinical presentation, reoentgenographic appearance, gross and microscopic characteristics, surgical treatment, differential diagnosis, and the rapeutic result are presented. A 27 year old male patient was admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery, Keimyung University Hospital because of progressive diffuse swelling in right temporal area of 4 months duration. In physical examination, nontender, firm, nonmovable diffuse mass in right temporal area and bean sized polypoid mass in the anterior and superior wall of the right external auditory canal were noted. Plain skull X-rays showed lytic defect in the right temporal squama, base of middle cranial fossa, sphenoid ridge, a part of petrous bone and anterior fossa with rather sharp, but not sclerotic margin. Brain CT scan showed a lentiform nonhomogeneous slight high density mass with scattered calcification in the entire middle cranial fossa, and the tumor enhanced slightly. Selective external carotid serial angiogram revealed complete obstruction of external carotid artery just behind the origin of lingual artery without tumor staining. Right temporal craniectomy was performed with nearly total curetting of tumor mass grossly. The histological diagnosis was chondroblastoma. The patient was discharged with good result.