GIANT OSTEOCHONDROMA OF THE ANTERIOR CRANIAL FOSSA - A RARE ENTITY

BackgroundOsteochondroma is a common bone tumor and rarely affects the central nervous system. Although intraspinal osteochondromas are known to cause neurological deficits, intracranial osteochondromas with neurological compromise are very rare.Case DescriptionThe authors report a case of 21 year old patient with a base of the anterior cranial fossa osteochondroma causing neurovascular compromise. The embryology, differential diagnoses, a n d o p t i m a l m a n a g e m e n t s t r a t e g i e s a r e discussed.ConclusionAlthough extremely rare, osteochondromas should be included in the differential diagnoses of tumors within the skull base. Despite potentially catastrophic presenting symptoms, these tumors are pathologically benign and complete excision often results in longterm cure.