Primary isolated ectopic cerebellopontine angle craniopharyngioma: diagnostic considerations, function-oriented resection, and long-term tumor control
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo; and
- 2Department of Neurosurgery, Kosei Chuo General Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Abstract
Primary isolated ectopic cerebellopontine angle craniopharyngioma is rare and should be considered among cystic cerebellopontine angle lesions. A woman in her 70s presented with a 44-mm lesion extending into Meckel’s cave, with progressive facial nerve palsy, bulbar dysfunction, and gait disturbance. Imaging revealed irregularly enhancing solid components within a homogeneous cyst, peripheral punctate calcifications, and low diffusion signal. Near-total resection was achieved through the retrosigmoid approach under continuous facial nerve monitoring, intentionally leaving adherent capsule. Pathological analysis confirmed adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma. Facial nerve function improved from House-Brackmann grade V to grade II, bulbar dysfunction and gait disturbance resolved, and no regrowth has occurred at 7 years.
The video can be found here: https://stream.cadmore.media/r10.3171/2026.7.FOCVID2677
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BibTeX
@article{matsushima2026primary,
title = {{Primary isolated ectopic cerebellopontine angle craniopharyngioma: diagnostic considerations, function-oriented resection, and long-term tumor control}},
author = {Ken Matsushima and Michihiro Kohno and Kyosuke Matsunaga and Hiroki Sakamoto and Jiro Akimoto},
journal = {Neurosurgical Focus: Video},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3171/2026.7.focvid2677},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3171/2026.7.focvid2677},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Primary isolated ectopic cerebellopontine angle craniopharyngioma: diagnostic considerations, function-oriented resection, and long-term tumor control
AU - Ken Matsushima
AU - Michihiro Kohno
AU - Kyosuke Matsunaga
AU - Hiroki Sakamoto
AU - Jiro Akimoto
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Neurosurgical Focus: Video
DO - 10.3171/2026.7.focvid2677
UR - https://doi.org/10.3171/2026.7.focvid2677
AB - Primary isolated ectopic cerebellopontine angle craniopharyngioma is rare and should be considered among cystic cerebellopontine angle lesions. A woman in her 70s presented with a 44-mm lesion extending into Meckel’s cave, with progressive facial nerve palsy, bulbar dysfunction, and gait disturbance. Imaging revealed irregularly enhancing solid components within a homogeneous cyst, peripheral punctate calcifications, and low diffusion signal. Near-total resection was achieved through the retrosigmoid approach under continuous facial nerve monitoring, intentionally leaving adherent capsule. Pathological analysis confirmed adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma. Facial nerve function improved from House-Brackmann grade V to grade II, bulbar dysfunction and gait disturbance resolved, and no regrowth has occurred at 7 years. The video can be found here: https://stream.cadmore.media/r10.3171/2026.7.FOCVID2677
SN - 2643-5217
ER -