Figure 2 - uploaded by Nenad Zivković
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Hystopatology of falx chondroma. Microscopic appearance of cartilaginous tumor. Cellular atypism is not identified (Hematoxylene-eosine , original magnification ×300).
Source publication
Introducion:
Intracranial chondroma is a very rare, slow growing, benign cartilaginous tumor that arises usually from the base of the scull. Chondroma located at the falx is extremely rare. According to our best knowledge 15 cases of falx chondromas have been reported in the literature.
Case outline:
This is the first case report of falx chondro...
Citations
... Furthermore, calcifications and hyperostosis are common in both cases. [3,12,14] A gravitation toward chondromas may surge when the meningiomas' typical avid and homogenous contrast enhancement is absent [3,11] . On MRI, chondromas may show several combinations of signal intensity and the signal intensity can be heterogeneous along the mass. ...
Background
Intracranial chondromas account for 0.2–0.3% of all intracranial neoplastic lesions and less than a quarter arise in the convexity or falx. Despite its benign nature, exceedingly rare malignant transformations exist. The misdiagnosis with meningiomas is frequent and may be related with chondromas’ similar insidious clinical presentation and imaging features. Standalone surgery is advised and complete resection provides the definitive treatment.
Case Description
A 44-year-old female presents with insidious headache, visual disturbances, and papilledema. The imaging studies were compatible with frontal parasagittal meningioma. Surgery revealed a meningeal based mass, mostly avascular and with a well-demarked surgical plane from the brain parenchyma. Complete resection with meningeal margins was achieved and the histopathologic examination revealed a chondroma. The patient symptoms subsided and no surgical complications existed.
Conclusion
Intracranial convexity chondromas constitute a rare differential diagnosis for meningiomas. The present case reinforces the current scarce data and serves as reminder for clinicians diagnosing and treating intracranial tumors.
... 9 In a very recent study, Zivkovic et al. summarized 16 cases, including their, of falxcerebri chondroma. 10 The patients usually present with long time history of symptoms and signs because of the slow growing nature of these tumors. 11 At time of surgery, most of the tumors are usually large. ...
Intracranial chondroma is a benign condition accounting for 0.2-0.3% of all intracranial tumors.1,2Most are found at the skull base near to the spheno-ethmoidal and spheno-occipital synchondrosis3 but chondroma of falx origin is a rare circumstance. We present a patient with a falcinechondroma and also review of recent literatures on intracranial chondromas regarding incidence, pathophysiologic origin, clinical symptoms, imaging, histopathology and prognosis.
... Intracranial chondroma can occur sporadically or may be associated with systemic enchondromatosis, such as Ollier's disease [9] and Maffucci's syndrome [10]. However, chondroma of the falx cerebri is rare, with only about 19 cases previously reported in the literature [1,3,7,[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. ...
... Based on previously published case reports, the most frequent symptom is a constant headache. Other symptoms and signs associated with intracranial chondroma include epilepsy, vomiting, seizures, increased intracranial pressure, and cerebral compression that results in focal neurological deficits [23]. This patient presented with episodes of severe headache resistant to analgesics and with anxiety, increased somnolence, and nausea. ...
... Any future recurrence of the tumor should raise concerns for malignant change to chondrosarcoma, which has rarely been reported [17]. Although the imaging and histological distinction between chondroma and chondrosarcoma can be difficult, chondrosarcoma tends to have heterogeneous but intense contrast-enhancement on neuroimaging without perifocal edema [23]. Therefore, it is important to plan for long-term follow-up of patients with excised chondroma of the falx cerebri to detect and manage recurrences in their early stages. ...
Patient: Male, 44
Final Diagnosis: Falx cerberi chondroma
Symptoms: Headache
Medication: —
Clinical Procedure: Resection of the tumor
Specialty: Neurosurgery
Objective
Challenging differential diagnosis
Background
Intracranial chondroma is a rare benign tumor that more commonly arises from the skull base. Chondroma arising from the falx cerebri is very rare, with only 19 cases previously reported in the literature. The imaging characteristics of intracranial chondroma and meningioma can be similar. Surgical excision and histology are required for the diagnosis. This report is of a case of intracranial chondroma that includes the imaging findings. The methods of diagnosis, management, and prognosis are discussed.
Case Report
A 44-year-old man presented with episodes of severe headache. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a well-defined, extra-axial, parafalcine lesion in the right frontal region. An interhemispheric craniotomy was performed. A right frontal solid and calcified tumor attached to the falx cerebri was identified and removed. Histology confirmed the diagnosis of a benign chondroma containing areas of hemorrhage and cystic degeneration.
Conclusions
Chondroma arising in the falx cerebri is a rare intracranial tumor that may mimic meningiomas on imaging. Awareness of the varied imaging characteristics of these benign tumors is essential for planning the most appropriate treatment.
... Exceptionally rare, chondromas developed from the falx cerebri [12,13], with an estimated incidence of 5.6-6.3% of all intracranial chondromas [14]. Depending on various authors, between 14-15 cases were reported in the literature [1,8,[12][13][14][15][16]. In a very recent study, Zivkovic et al. summarized 16 cases, including their, of falx cerebri chondroma [17]. ...
Intracranial chondromas are rare skull base tumors, but those arising from the falx cerebri are extremely rare. Of our knowledge, there have been reported no more than seventeen cases. Surgical gross removal of falx chondroma is associated with good outcome. We bring into focus the case of a large falcine chondroma and discuss its diagnosis, surgical management and prognosis.
Chondroma is a benign cartilage‐forming tumor which usually occurs in small bones of extremities but occasionally occurs in the brain. Usually, intracranial chondromas originate from skull base; however, chondroma of the falx cerebri is a very rare condition. We here report a rare case of falcine chondroma in a 19‐year‐old man who had normal physical examination without signs of any syndromic disorder. The neuroimaging findings were inconclusive, and the diagnosis was based on histopathological examination. The purpose of this paper is to raise attention about intracranial chondromas and suggest that chondroma must be ruled out in any patient presenting with masses arising from the falx.
